Crime
UPDATE: Suspect found deceased on Canfield Mountain with firearm nearby
At least 2 firefighters dead, several wounded, Gunman still shooting
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A suspected gunman has been found dead near a firearm on Canfield Mountain, following an hours-long active shooter situation that left two firefighters dead, another critically injured, and multiple agencies scrambling to contain both the violence and a still-active wildfire.
According to officials, the shelter-in-place order has now been lifted, though law enforcement continues to secure the area and assess whether additional suspects may be involved. The wildfire, which first drew firefighters to the scene, remains active and uncontained.
Timeline of Events
- At 1:21 p.m., fire crews were dispatched to a reported brush fire on the east side of Canfield Mountain, near Coeur d’Alene.
- By 2:00 p.m., emergency radio traffic confirmed that firefighters were under sniper fire upon arrival.
- Two members of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) were killed in what authorities have called a deliberate and calculated ambush. A third firefighter remains in surgery.
- The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office declared a mass casualty incident, activating multiple law enforcement agencies and aerial support units.
Sheriff Bob Norris described the scene as one of the most dangerous law enforcement has encountered in recent history.
At one point during the standoff, officers reported “actively taking sniper fire” from elevated terrain on the mountain.
Sheriff Norris confirmed the suspect was using a high-powered, modern sporting rifle, and noted that additional shooters had not been ruled out.
“This was a heinous act of violence against first responders who were trying to protect our community,” said Sheriff Norris. “We are grieving alongside their families.”
In an extraordinary and urgent appeal during the incident, Norris publicly encouraged any armed residents with a clear line of sight to “neutralize the threat”, stating:
“At this point in time, they are showing no signs of surrender. So as soon as someone has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot and neutralize the threat.”
When asked if gunfire was coming from more than one location, the sheriff responded:
“Yes. Oh, yeah. That’s what the officers and deputies are reporting up on the mountain right now.”
As of late afternoon, law enforcement reported the discovery of a deceased individual near a firearm, believed to be the suspected shooter.
Authorities are working to confirm the person’s identity and role in the attack. The presence of other possible suspects has not been definitively ruled out.
- Two Spokane County Sheriff helicopters assisted in the search and containment effort.
- Medical helicopters were used to evacuate the wounded.
- Fire crews remain on standby as the wildfire continues to pose a threat to surrounding areas, especially after initial teams were forced to withdraw under gunfire.
A press conference is expected within the next several hours, where officials will provide further updates on the suspect, the victims, and the scope of the investigation.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid the Canfield Mountain area and to report any suspicious activity.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, along with state and federal partners, is leading the investigation into what has now become one of Idaho’s most tragic and complex public safety incidents in recent memory.
This is a developing story.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subject’s vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.