Crime
Coeur d’Alene shooting suspect found dead near firearm on Canfield Mountain
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
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.