COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The man accused of killing two firefighters and injuring another after starting a fire and ambushing first responders in Idaho has an Oklahoma connection.
Handout screenshots of suspect Wess Roley’s Instagram story are seen at the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office during a press conference the day after Roley ambushed, shot and killed multiple firefighters responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain Monday, June 30, 2025, in Hayden, Idaho. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Police say Wess Roley, 20, allegedly lured firefighters by starting a brush fire in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He then opened fire, killing Battalion Chiefs Frank Harwood, 42, and John Morrison, 52, and critically injuring engineer Dave Tysdal.
Roley also was found dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“He wanted to be a fireman – he was doing tree work and he wanted to be a fireman in the forest,” Dale Roley said. “As far as I know, he was actually pursuing it.