Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies have blocked a road leading to an area where multiple firefighters were assaulted, as reported by Young Kwak/Reuters. The suspect believed to have killed two firefighters on Sunday in Idaho after igniting a brush fire had aspirations of becoming a firefighter himself, according to his grandfather who spoke to CNN.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley, was found dead at the scene of the shooting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which resulted in the deaths of two firefighters and the injury of a third responder. Roley’s grandfather, Dale Roley, mentioned that his grandson hailed from a family of arborists and was working in the tree service industry while contemplating his career path. Dale Roley revealed that Wess aspired to be a forest firefighter and was actively pursuing that goal.
Although Wess Roley owned a shotgun and a long rifle, it remains unclear if these firearms were used in the sniper ambush described by authorities. According to his grandfather, Dale Roley, they usually communicated weekly, but had not been in touch recently as Wess had lost his phone. Dale Roley shared that Wess had a supportive circle of family and friends, and even vacationed in Hawaii with his mother last year, as shown on social media.
Dale Roley expressed disbelief that his grandson could be involved in such a violent act and held onto hope that Wess was not the perpetrator. Public records indicate that the suspect had previously lived in the Phoenix area and participated in track at a local high school, graduating in the class of 2024.
Family court documents revealed a troubled upbringing for Roley, with his mother filing for divorce citing threats and violence by her husband. Despite a protective order initially including their son, it was later amended to exclude him based on his father’s assertion of non-dangerous behavior. Roley’s mother became his primary caregiver following the divorce.
Roley’s father, when approached by a CNN reporter in Priest River, Idaho, disclosed that he had little contact with his son and hadn’t seen him since a gathering last year. He did not respond to queries about the past allegations in court documents, and Roley’s mother was unreachable for comment.
Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Isabelle Chapman, Curt Devine, and Majlie de Puy Kamp. To stay updated on CNN news and newsletters, sign up at CNN.com.
