The individual suspected of killing two firefighters in Idaho has been characterized as a ‘loner’ by his relatives. A troubling social media post seems to show him just before the tragic event occurred.
Frank Harwood and John Morrison were responding to a fire on Canfield Mountain, near Coeur d’Alene, when they were targeted by a sniper who had concealed himself in the environment on Sunday, June 29.
Wess Roley is believed to have killed the two men and wounded a third firefighter, Dave Tysdal, before taking his own life.
The 20-year-old allegedly hid in the rugged terrain as Harwood and Morrison, both battalion chiefs with the Kootenai Fire and Rescue Department and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department respectively, worked to contain the wildfire.
Unbeknownst to the firefighters, they were entering an ‘ambush,’ as Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris described it, with investigators discovering a flint near Roley’s body.
Authorities suspect he ignited the fire and then ascended the hill to gain a vantage point, waiting for first responders to arrive.
A now-removed Instagram Story has emerged online showing the ‘loner’ in camouflage attire, with face paint for better concealment, accompanied by Björk’s song ‘Hunter.’
Roley’s grandfather described him as ‘kind of a loner,’ noting he was ‘high-strung’ and often appeared ‘nervous,’ traits Dale Roley considered ‘normal issues for kids these days.’
Dale Roley shared with NBC News that his grandson lived with him for several months last year before moving to Idaho. During that time, Wess expressed a strong desire to join the fire service, leading Dale to speculate that ‘something must have snapped.’
“He actually really respected law enforcement. He loved firefighters, it didn’t make sense that he was shooting firefighters – maybe he got rejected or something?” Dale wondered.
“I know he had been in contact to get a job with a fire department – he wanted to be part of a team that he sort of idolized,” he added.
Roley was employed in tree service but aspired to become a firefighter. Dale suggested his height of 5ft 8 might have been a barrier to joining the fire service.
Sheriff Norris, speaking at a press conference soon after the incident, informed reporters that Tysdal of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department is ‘fighting for his life but he’s in stable condition.’
“This was a total ambush, these firefighters did not have a chance,” he said.
“We have currently one dead shooter based on the preliminary investigation that was being conducted. Keep in mind we had a fire that was rapidly approaching the body so we had to scoop up that body and we had to transport that body to a different location,” Sheriff Norris explained.
“We believe that it is the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time,” he concluded.