Suspect Identified as Wess Roley, Motives and Investigation Ongoing

The individual responsible for the Idaho firefighter ambush shooting has been identified as Wess Roley, according to officials who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not released details regarding the 20-year-old's background or the motives behind the attack. The police believe Roley did not leave a written explanation for his actions.

The incident unfolded during an hours-long gun battle on Sunday. An individual armed with a rifle ignited a wildfire in a northern Idaho mountain community and opened fire on first responders. The attack resulted in the deaths of two firefighters and caused serious injuries to another. Local sources indicate that the suspect's body and a firearm were discovered by police as the fire approached law enforcement officers. The suspect was located by tracking his mobile phone signal.

Shawn Turner, former US national intelligence communications director, stated that investigators are working to understand the suspect's identity and the motivations behind the attack. Investigators are also looking into any potential conflicts between the suspect and local law enforcement. The cellphone signal on Canfield Mountain was a key factor in locating the suspect.

Sheriff Bob Norris explained that a cellphone signal was active in the same location since approximately 3:16 pm. Authorities were able to pinpoint the location of the phone and discovered a deceased male with a weapon nearby. Sheriff's officials reported that crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain, just north of Coeur d'Alene, around 1:30 pm Sunday, and gunshots were heard about half an hour later. Norris stated that the suspect started the fire and that the attack was an intentional ambush.

According to hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson, three victims were transported to Kootenai Health. Two were pronounced dead upon arrival, and the third was being treated for serious injuries. The injured firefighter was in stable condition after surgery. One of the deceased firefighters was from the Coeur D'Alene Fire Department, and the other was from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. Their names were not immediately released. The scene was chaotic, with firefighters facing gunfire as they responded to the brush fire. First responders urgently requested backup over the radio.

The sheriff acknowledged the assistance of federal agencies, particularly for providing advanced technology used to track the mobile phone signal. Aerial law enforcement units played a crucial role. Helicopters equipped with advanced technology helped pinpoint the cellphone activity. These helicopters also had snipers ready to respond to any immediate threats.