Crime
Who Was Wess Roley? Suspect Identified in Deadly Idaho Wildfire Ambush
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Authorities have identified Wess Roley as the gunman responsible for Sunday’s horrifying ambush on Canfield Mountain that left two firefighters dead and a third critically injured.
According to law enforcement, Roley deliberately set a wildfire and then opened fire on responding fire crews, luring them into a deadly trap.
Roley, whose body was discovered Sunday evening near a firearm, was found in the rugged terrain of Canfield Mountain outside Coeur d’Alene. A law enforcement official confirmed his identity to Channel2 NOW on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.
The incident began around 1:21 p.m. on Sunday when emergency calls were made reporting a brush fire in the heavily wooded hills of Canfield Mountain.
As first responders from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire & Rescue arrived to assess and contain the fire, gunfire erupted.
Two firefighters were struck and killed during the initial ambush.
A third firefighter was also shot and transported to a local hospital in critical condition. He later underwent emergency surgery and is now reported to be in stable condition.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said during a press briefing that the attack was a premeditated ambush, likely carried out using a high-powered rifle.
“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance,” Sheriff Norris stated.
Scanner traffic from the chaotic scene captured the fear and urgency as firefighters came under attack:
“Send law enforcement right now! There’s an active shooter zone… everybody’s shot up here!” one firefighter called out over the radio. He also warned others: “Stop. Do not come up here.”
Another firefighter could be heard suggesting that the fire had been intentionally set to draw them in:
“It’s clear to me that this fire was set intentionally to draw us in.”
As the situation escalated, Sheriff Norris authorized law enforcement to engage with deadly force.
By 4:30 p.m., he had deployed two helicopters carrying snipers, with instructions to neutralize the shooter if an opportunity presented itself.
“I was hoping someone would have a clear shot and be able to neutralize the threat,” Norris said. “There was no indication the suspect planned to surrender.”
Roley was found deceased shortly after, although it remains unclear whether he was shot by law enforcement or died by suicide.
Sheriff Norris later confirmed that based on ballistic trajectory and the weapons recovered, investigators believe Roley acted alone.
While Roley’s motive is still under investigation, authorities suspect he intentionally ignited the fire to ambush emergency responders. Sheriff Norris stated that further evidence, including additional weapons, may be recovered from the scene.
As the wildfire continued to spread to more than 20 acres, fire crews were pulled back due to ongoing gunfire.
Northern Lakes Fire Chief Pat Riley confirmed that no further fire personnel would be deployed until the threat had been fully eliminated.
On Sunday evening, the bodies of the two fallen firefighters were transported from Kootenai Health to Spokane, Washington, in a solemn multi-agency procession.
Fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles escorted them along the highway, while locals lined overpasses waving flags and offering salutes in a poignant tribute.
Idaho Governor Brad Little called the incident a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters”, adding that he and his wife were “heartbroken” by the tragedy.
“I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more,” the governor posted on X.
Other state and federal officials also weighed in:
- Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated her office was closely monitoring the situation, promising: “Justice will be served.”
- FBI tactical and technical teams responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.
- The Idaho House Republican Leadership issued a statement: “We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene and shocked by such a vicious attack on our first responders. We are praying for them, the injured, their families, and their colleagues.”
Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking and biking area just outside Coeur d’Alene, became a war zone on Sunday. Its thick vegetation and complex trail system presented both tactical challenges and vulnerabilities for those responding to the emergency.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to learn more about Roley’s background, motivations, and whether he had any known grievances or warning signs prior to the ambush.
This is a developing story, and further details will be released as they become available.
Crime
46-year-old building manager James Stuart killed in shooting at VIDA Fitness gym in Washington Logan Circle neighborhood
Washington, D.C. police have released additional details about a deadly shooting near Logan Circle that left one person dead and four others injured.
Interim Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed that the victim killed in the incident was identified as 46-year-old James Stuart, a building manager from Northwest Washington, D.C.
According to police, the shooting began inside VIDA Fitness, where the suspect allegedly shot Stuart with a handgun. The gunman then returned to his nearby apartment, located on the seventh floor of a building, and opened fire with a rifle from his private balcony or patio, striking four people below near Church Street, 15th Street and a nearby alley.
Two women and two men were wounded in the street shooting. One victim remains in critical condition, while the other three are expected to survive.
MPD and federal law enforcement officers responded within minutes, possibly seconds, of the initial reports. Witnesses and nearby residents helped investigators quickly identify the suspect’s apartment, allowing officers to locate the source of the gunfire.
Police said the suspect fired through the apartment door at members of MPD’s Emergency Response Team on two separate occasions. He subsequently damaged a gas line, intentionally started a fire inside the apartment and turned the gun on himself. Officers later forced their way into the apartment and found him dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities identified the suspect as 55-year-old Matt Wade Lambert, who lived in Northwest Washington, D.C.
Investigators recovered three firearms inside the apartment: a rifle, a shotgun and a handgun. Police believe the suspect used all three weapons during the incident, and preliminary findings indicate that at least some level of planning may have been involved.
According to information provided by police, the suspected motive may have been connected to an ongoing dispute between Lambert and his condominium homeowners association (HOA) management. The disagreement reportedly involved building maintenance and mold issues, along with a lawsuit Lambert had filed. During negotiations with police, much of the conversation reportedly centered on his dispute with the HOA.
Authorities also confirmed that Lambert did not have any firearms registered to him in Washington, D.C. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating how and when he obtained the three weapons.
Police said they have not identified any known connection between Lambert and the four people shot outside the building.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the complete circumstances, timeline and motive behind the deadly shooting.