Authorities in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, have identified 20-year-old Wess Val Roley as the suspect behind a deadly ambush targeting firefighters. Investigators say Roley intentionally set a wildfire, then opened fire on first responders, killing senior fire officials Frank Harwood and John Morrison. Firefighter Dave Tysdal was critically wounded and remains hospitalized after undergoing two surgeries. Officials believe the attack was calculated and premeditated.
Harwood, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, had served with Kootenai County Fire Rescue for 17 years. Morrison dedicated over 28 years to the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department. Both men were respected leaders in their departments and the wider firefighting community. Their deaths have left a deep void in local emergency services and beyond.
The attack occurred on Sunday, June 29, on Canfield Mountain, prompting a massive response. Roughly 300 personnel — including FBI agents and Idaho National Guard troops — joined the manhunt. That evening, a SWAT team discovered Roley dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Nearby, authorities recovered a firearm and a fire-starting device, reinforcing suspicions the blaze was a lure.
Originally from California and Arizona, Roley had been living in Idaho for much of 2024. Former acquaintances described his behavior as increasingly erratic before the attack. Family members said he once dreamed of becoming a firefighter himself. The wildfire burned 26 acres, triggering evacuations and widespread fear. The FBI continues to investigate, with state and national leaders condemning the ambush as a senseless, tragic act.