COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A shocking ambush on Sunday afternoon left two firefighters dead and one critically injured after a gunman allegedly set a wildfire to lure first responders into a deadly trap. Authorities have identified the suspect as 20-year-old Wess Roley, a resident of northern Idaho. Investigators believe Roley deliberately started a brush fire on Canfield Mountain, just outside Coeur d’Alene, before opening fire on crews as they arrived to battle the blaze.
The fire was first reported around 1:21 p.m. on the east side of the mountain. Firefighters from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire & Rescue rushed to the scene. Within minutes, dispatchers began receiving radio calls from responders under heavy gunfire. “These firefighters did not have a chance,” said Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris. “This was a planned attack. The fire was set to draw them in.”
Law enforcement quickly launched a tactical response, deploying SWAT teams and helicopters to locate the shooter. By late afternoon, Roley’s body was found on the mountain near a high-powered firearm. Officials have not yet determined whether he died by suicide or was killed in the exchange of gunfire. Sheriff Norris confirmed, “We found a firearm next to the suspect and believe he acted alone based on the direction of shots fired and evidence recovered.”
Two firefighters—one from Coeur d’Alene and another from Kootenai County—were fatally shot. Their identities have not been released, pending family notification. A third firefighter, also from Coeur d’Alene, was seriously wounded but is now reported to be in stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery. The incident was declared a mass casualty event as responders evacuated personnel and secured the area.
Roley was the son of Heather Lynn Caldwell-Cuchiara and stepson of Tony Cuchiara, both of whom are known supporters of the MAGA political movement. However, authorities have not confirmed whether politics played any role in the attack. The FBI has joined the investigation and is assisting with forensic and tactical support. The motive for the deadly ambush remains unclear.
Governor Brad Little condemned the violence, calling it a “heinous and deliberate assault on our first responders.” He urged the public to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts. “This is a tragic day for Idaho,” he said. Firefighting efforts were briefly halted for safety, and the public has been asked to stay away from the Canfield Mountain area as the investigation continues.