Idaho sniper suspect Wess Roley claimed ‘I'm going hunting' in chilling post hours before deadly ambush as new details revealed
The creepy post was among a slew of new details about the horror revealed at a sheriff's press conference.
Authorities said Roley had been living out of his car before his heinous attack, which left two firefighters dead and another critically wounded.
3 Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris holds a picture of a chilling Instagram post made by shooter Wess Roley, hours before the deadly rampage.
Reuters
3 A firefighting aircraft drops water on a wildfire the day after a shooter ambushed and killed multiple firefighters responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain.
AP
Roley, 20, had been confronted by the smoke-eaters about his vehicle before he opened fire on them, according to police.
More than 300 law enforcement officers from various agencies responded to the scene once the shots started and spent hours trying to neutralize Roley.
His abandoned car was even rolled off a mountain ledge to prevent him from escaping, while fire engine wheels were deflated to keep him from stealing one and slipping away.
No motive has been identified in the attack, but officers have not yet searched Roley's vehicle.
Authorities do not believe he left a manifesto, and he has known no ties to any Mideast terror group, Norris said.
3 Authorities said Roley had been living out of his car before his heinous attack, which left two firefighters dead and another critically wounded.
The killer, who was born in California, had been in living in the Coeur d'Alene area since 2024, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said.
During that time, he had at least five interactions with local police ranging from trespassing to welfare checks, most of which stemmed from reports of him living in his car and parking it on other peoples' property.
The interactions were 'very, very minor,' Norris said, explaining that investigators had identified no criminal record in Idaho or where Roley had previously lived California and Arizona.
Roley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday after he appeared to intentionally start a fire in the woods of Canfield Mountain just after 1 p.m. and opened-fire on firefighters who responded to the scene.
It remains unclear if the blaze was used to lure the firefighters to the mountain for an ambush or if the bloodbath was sparked by a disagreement during the interaction over his car.
Roley used a shotgun loaded with slugs during the gunfight.
The fire he started is still burning over 26 acres, but officials expect it will be contained by Monday night.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more information.
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