Crime
Coeur d’Alene Ambush Suspect Wess Roley wanted to be a firefighter
Idaho shooter shot at firefighters from up in a tree.
COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO – The man accused of fatally ambushing two firefighters on Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho once harbored aspirations of becoming a firefighter himself, according to family members and law enforcement officials.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley, was found deceased at the scene of the ambush-style attack on Sunday, June 30, after allegedly setting a brush fire to lure first responders to the area.
Two firefighters were killed in the attack, and a third was injured.
Preliminary evidence suggests Roley died by suicide.
Wess Roley was born in California and also lived in Arizona and Idaho.
Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris confirmed Monday that Roley had previously expressed an interest in a firefighting career. “At one point, it appears Mr. Roley wanted to be a firefighter,” Norris said during a press briefing. “There is no known manifesto or clear motive at this time.”
Roley’s grandfather, Dale Roley, told reporters that his grandson came from a family of arborists and had been working in the tree services industry while contemplating his future. “He wanted to be a fireman—he was doing tree work and he wanted to be a fireman in the forest,” he said. “As far as I know, he was actually pursuing it.”
The suspect was reportedly in possession of a shotgun and a long rifle, though authorities have not confirmed whether those specific weapons were used in the ambush.
Sheriff Norris stated that rifled shotgun slugs and other smaller munitions were recovered at the scene, indicating a sniper-style assault. Investigators also recovered a flint fire starter on Roley’s body, believed to have been used to ignite the blaze that drew firefighters to the area.
Sheriff Norris further disclosed that there was some form of verbal interaction between Roley and the firefighters before the shooting began, though details of that exchange remain under investigation.
Public records and court documents suggest that Roley had a troubled upbringing. His parents divorced in 2015, when he was 10 years old.
In her petition, Roley’s mother accused his father of domestic violence, alleging that he had pushed her to the ground, punched holes in the walls, and threatened to burn down the house or use a sniper rifle against her.
A protective order was issued by the court, initially including Wess Roley, though it was later amended to allow contact between father and son after the father claimed he posed no threat.
Roley had previously lived in the Phoenix, Arizona area and, according to social media posts, had vacationed in Hawaii with his mother last year.
His grandfather said they typically spoke weekly, but had not been in contact in the past month due to Wess losing his phone. Investigators believe Roley may have been living in his vehicle at the time of the attack.
Authorities continue to investigate the case, and no clear motive has been established.
Sheriff Norris reiterated that there is currently no evidence suggesting the presence of a manifesto or political motivation behind the deadly ambush.
CHICAGO, IL — A man was found shot to death Friday night on Chicago’s South Side, prompting a homicide investigation by Area One detectives, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 900 block of West 63rd Parkway in the Englewood neighborhood at approximately 10:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a 36-year-old male victim suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and neck.
Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but the victim was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified him as Emerald Pretty, age 36.
According to preliminary information, a male suspect exited a white sedan, approached the victim, and opened fire before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.
No arrests have been made at this time, and Area One detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities have not released details on a possible motive or whether the incident may have been targeted.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department’s Area One Bureau of Detectives or submit an anonymous tip through CPD’s tip line or Crime Stoppers.