A tragic incident unfolded in northern Idaho when a man started a wildfire and then opened fire on firefighters, killing two and injuring one. The shooting happened after one of the responders asked the man to move his vehicle.

Suspect Identified as 20-Year-Old Wess Roley

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris identified the gunman as 20-year-old Wess Roley. Authorities later found him dead at the scene from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to the Associated Press, the violence began after firefighters asked Roley to move his car. The confrontation took place on Sunday at Canfield Mountain, just north of Coeur d’Alene. The location is known as a popular outdoor area.

Roley Was Living in His Vehicle

Sheriff Norris revealed that Roley had been living out of his car and had few local contacts. At one point, he even wanted to become a firefighter himself. However, his reasons for starting the fire and attacking the responders remain unclear.

“We have not been able to find a manifesto,” Norris said. He added that the victims’ families were “in shock and are still processing it.”

Firefighters Caught in Deadly Ambush

Roley started the fire using a flint on Sunday. When firefighters arrived to put it out, they came under sudden gunfire. They tried to shield themselves behind fire trucks, but two were fatally shot. A third firefighter was wounded. The standoff lasted several hours before Roley took his own life, according to Norris.

Dispute Began Over Vehicle Parking

Sheriff Norris stated there was some kind of exchange between Roley and the firefighters over where his vehicle was parked. Investigators found that Roley had connections to California and Arizona, and had been staying in Idaho for most of 2024. But they still don't know why he chose that location or what led him to attack.

Massive Response to Contain the Threat

On the day of the attack, helicopters circled above Canfield Mountain. They carried snipers ready to stop the shooter if needed. Meanwhile, the FBI used cellphone tracking to locate Roley. The sheriff also ordered people nearby to shelter in place. Eventually, officers found Roley dead in the mountain area with his gun next to him.

Housemate Noticed Strange Behavior

TJ Franks, who lived with Roley in Sandpoint, Idaho, said Roley worked in tree services. He described some odd behavior in the weeks leading up to the shooting. One day, Franks’ camera captured Roley flashing gang signs. “I didn’t know what to really think about it,” Franks said. “I just called the cops and had them talk to him.”

Franks also said the landlord once called him after neighbors noticed Roley’s car had been running nonstop for 12 hours. He added that Roley started acting strange. At one point, he even shaved off all his long hair.

“We just kind of noticed him starting to decline or kind of go downhill,” Franks told the Associated Press.