On June 29, Idaho firefighters Frank Harwood and John Morrison were shot dead while battling a wildfire on Canfield Mountain. A third firefighter, Dave Tysdal, was seriously injured. Authorities say the attack was an ambush. “These firefighters did not have a chance,” said Sheriff Bob Norris. The suspected shooter, 20-year-old Wess Roley, later took his own life.

Investigators believe Roley deliberately started the fire, climbed uphill, and hid in rocky terrain in camouflage. Next to his body, they found a flint and other evidence suggesting he waited for responders. An eerie Instagram story posted hours before showed Roley in face paint and camouflage, with the song Hunter by Björk playing in the background.

Roley’s grandfather, Dale, called him “kind of a loner,” “high-strung,” and “nervous,” but said those were “normal issues for kids these days.” He added, “He loved firefighters… maybe he got rejected or something?”

Roley had once hoped to join the fire service. He had applied for jobs and admired first responders. Dale said, “He wanted to be part of a team he sort of idolized… something must have snapped.”