Suspected Idaho Sniper Who Ambushed Firefighters Identified, Motive Still Unknown

A tragic and targeted ambush in northern Idaho has left two firefighters dead, one critically injured, and a community in mourning. Authorities have identified the alleged sniper as Wess Roley, whose body was discovered at the scene beside his firearm. Law enforcement officials believe Roley set a brush fire to lure first responders into a deadly trap.

According to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris, it remains unclear whether Roley was killed by return fire or died by suicide. What is clear, however, is the deliberate nature of the attack, which law enforcement sources described as a “staged ambush” meant to maximize harm.

“Right now, behind the scenes, there’s a lot of work going on to really understand who this individual is and what motivated them to carry out this attack,” said Shawn Turner, a former U.S. national intelligence communications director.

The incident unfolded Sunday on Canfield Mountain, just north of Coeur d’Alene, after a brush fire—now confirmed to be intentionally set—spread rapidly through difficult terrain. The blaze, dubbed the Nettleton Gulch Fire, grew to at least 26 acres by Monday morning, per the Idaho Department of Lands.

Firefighters responding to the call were met not just with smoke and flames, but with gunfire. Two were killed instantly, while a third—initially reported to be fighting for his life—was later stabilized. Officials have yet to release the names of the fallen heroes, out of respect for their families.

Investigators say the suspect ignited the fire specifically to draw in first responders. Once they arrived, Roley allegedly opened fire from a concealed position. Turner characterized the event as “a fairly complex attack where he intended to harm more people than he did.”

“I listened to that, and I could hear in their voices the kind of tension that I would hear under very stressful situations in the military,” Turner added, referencing emergency responder communications.

The outpouring of support from the Coeur d’Alene community has been both swift and emotional. On Sunday evening, a long procession accompanied the fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health to Spokane, Washington. Residents lined the roads in silence, waving flags and holding each other close.

“It was very moving to see all the people that came out. They just kept coming out,” said Bill Buley, assistant managing editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press.
“I think a lot of people were hit hard to think that this could happen — to their firefighters, the front-line guys, who are there to protect them.”

This horrific incident underscores the increasing dangers first responders face—not just from natural disasters, but from individuals who view chaos as an opportunity for violence.

While the mainstream media focuses on narratives that downplay such attacks, communities across America are seeing the tragic consequences of a culture that increasingly devalues law, order, and the heroes who uphold them.