Police Identify Suspect and Two Victims in Fatal Ambush of Firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho — Details
ArchiveFirst published July 1, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Authorities have identified 20-year-old Wess Val Roley as the suspect behind the deadly ambush that killed two firefighters and injured another in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Investigators believe Wess deliberately set a wildfire to lure first responders into a trap on June 29.
Battalion Chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison were shot and killed while responding to the blaze. A third firefighter, Dave Tysdal, remains in critical condition after two surgeries. Sheriff Norris confirmed Wess acted alone and later took his own life on Canfield Mountain.
Wess’s social media showed disturbing images hours before the attack, including a masked selfie with Björk’s song Hunter playing. Family and a former roommate described a recent mental decline. Though he once dreamed of being a firefighter, Wess’s actions stunned those who knew him.
The FBI and Idaho National Guard assisted in the response. Governor Brad Little called it a “heinous assault,” and the fire community mourns the loss. Investigators continue searching for a motive as the case sparks national outrage.
