Two Firefighters Were Executed, and a Third Wounded, In Idaho Sniper Attack
At least two firefighters were fatally shot and at least one was critically injured while responding to what appears to be an intentionally set brush fire in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. At least one active shooter continues to fire at law enforcement with high-powered rifles, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris, who said civilians were trying to get off Canfield Mountain, where the brush fire broke out, drawing the victims to the scene. 'We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,' Norris said, adding that the number of victims hit by gunfire remained unclear. He did have a message for the swarms of law enforcement who raced to the scene: "As soon as someone gets a clear shot, I encourage them to take it and neutralize the threat. We will neutralize this threat." The chaotic scene unfolded Sunday afternoon when firefighters responded to a call for a brush fire around 1:30 p.m. local time, and found themselves under attack almost immediately. The desperation as first responders took what Norris called "rapid fire" could be heard as firefighters radioed for help, a chilling broadcast that was posted by Broadcastify.
"Two battalion chiefs down, two officers injured,' a first responder said over the radio, according to the recording. 'I have no idea where the shooters [are] at or where they're going, in which direction. I would recommend that our units, all of our firing units, escape further down the pavement towards town, maybe a half a mile or so to a safe staging area,' a voice on the first responder radio said.Officials have not confirmed the total number of people injured or whether they've been able to evacuate everyone from the area.'We're going to need multiple ambulances for ALS care," the speaker continued. "As soon as we can get law enforcement in here to get these people out, I recommend we get no less than five, five ambulances staged at the bottom. I don't care where we get them from."International Association of Fire Fighters President Ed Kelly called the ambush a "heinous act of violence."
Officers reported that shots were coming from multiple directions, suggesting the possibility of multiple attackers, Norris said. He added it appeared that 'high-powered rifles' were being used by attackers who appeared to be trained and were blending into the mountain's bushy terrain. This is a developing story. Follow lamag.com for updates and developments.
This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Next to his signature were two symbols that appear to be runes linked to Nazi ideology. Roley used gas, lighters and flint to start a series of fires at Canfield Mountain on June 29 to instigate a response, then shot at firefighters who asked him to move his vehicle, Norris said. He shot at others from a tree before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff said. "This was a premeditated ambush, a pure act of evil against the people we look to for help," Norris said. Killed were Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, and Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52. Coeur d'Alene Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, was hospitalized in critical condition. Investigators hope to learn more from Roley's social media accounts, but it's clear that his frustrations were growing over time, the sheriff said. 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Roley lived with his mother, Heather Caldwell-Cuchiara, and stepfather in Phoenix, Arizona, before moving to northern Idaho to live with his father, Jason Roley, in 2024. Dieter Denen, who went to elementary, middle and high school with Roley, told the AP that Roley's aggression and 'racist' comments made classmates uncomfortable. 'He was really on edge a lot,' Denen said. Roley would say unkind or rude things to people of a different race, culture or religion, he said. 'You'd kind of go, 'what the heck — why would you say that — it's a little messed up to say that," he said. Roley got in trouble for drawing a swastika in a school book, and also liked to draw bombs, planes and 'military things,' Denen said. Roley also bragged about his time in Germany: 'He would always tell me, 'I'm a lot more German in every way compared to you." Denen said he couldn't believe it when a friend texted an article about the shootings. 'It's just so shocking," Denen said. "With Wess, he was definitely different when we were younger but it's hard to think that anyone could ever do something like that.' Court records show his parents, Heather and Jason Roley, were married in San Bernardino, California, in 2008. Jason Roley served in the Army from 2007 to 2015, including two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, and left the service as a staff sergeant, an Army spokesperson said. The family lived in Grafenwöhr, Germany, home to a large U.S. Army base, from 2010 to 2015, when Wess Roley was 5 to 10 years old. Records show his mother filed for divorce after they moved to Phoenix and sought a protection order saying Jason Roley posed a threat to her and their son. Her petition said he was an alcoholic and had been arrested for assaulting her on Oct. 1, 2015. 'He was very intoxicated,' she wrote. 'He was crying inconsolably saying that he was going to commit suicide. Things escalated. He punched several holes in the walls, destroyed my cell phone, pushed me to the ground.' Jason Roley texted her after his arrest saying he was going to kill himself, she wrote. 'Jason verbally threatened me by saying he would be waiting outside with a sniper rifle and burn the place down,' she wrote. 'He said the only thing stopping him from going through with it was going to prison.' The judge ordered him to stay away from his wife and son and surrender any firearms. 'I am not a danger to my son or anyone else," Jason Roley responded. "The plaintiff did not tell the truth in her statement." The judge apparently believed her after a hearing. His order cited an act of domestic violence and said he might do it again. The protection would continue for the mother, but not their minor child. Three years later, Jason Roley applied for a marriage license, with Sara Peterson. Their social media pages say they're married and live in Priest River, Idaho, near Sandpoint, where Wess Roley had been living before he became homeless. Email and phone messages seeking Jason Roley's comment were not returned. His father, Dale Roley, wrote on Facebook that he's the grandfather. 'I would like give my Condolence's to all those family members who were Unfortunately Victims of yesterdays Crimes," Dale Roley wrote. 'Those good Brave Firefighters were just doing there Job they did not deserve this!'
