Crime
Coeur d’Alene Ambush Suspect Wess Roley Set Fire to Lure Firefighters into Deadly Trap
The motive behind the ambush remains under investigation.
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Authorities have identified the gunman behind Sunday’s deadly ambush on Canfield Mountain as 20-year-old Wess Roley, a resident of northern Idaho.
Roley is accused of deliberately setting a wildfire to lure first responders into a trap, before opening fire on firefighters, killing two and critically injuring a third.
According to law enforcement officials, Roley was the son of Heather Lynn Caldwell-Cuchiara and stepson of Tony Cuchiara, both of whom are known supporters of the political MAGA movement.
Authorities have not confirmed whether Roley’s political affiliations played any role in the attack.
The motive behind the ambush remains under investigation.
The incident began around 1:21 p.m. on Sunday when a brush fire was reported on the east side of Canfield Mountain, just outside the city of Coeur d’Alene.
Firefighters from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire & Rescue responded to the scene.
By 2:00 p.m., radio transmissions from firefighters indicated they were under active gunfire.
“These firefighters did not have a chance,” said Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, describing the scene as an intentional ambush. “The fire was set to draw them in.”
Law enforcement officers, including members of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and other responding agencies, engaged in a tactical response.
SWAT teams were deployed, and helicopters were dispatched to provide air support and locate the gunman.
Later in the afternoon, SWAT officers located Roley’s body on Canfield Mountain near a high-powered firearm.
It remains unclear whether he was killed by return fire from law enforcement or died by suicide.
His body was recovered and transported off the mountain as the wildfire continued to advance.
“We recovered a firearm next to the suspect,” Norris confirmed. “We believe he acted alone, based on the trajectory of gunfire and the type of weaponry recovered at the scene.”
Two firefighters were killed in the attack — one from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and another from Kootenai County Fire & Rescue. Their names have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
A third firefighter, also from Coeur d’Alene, was transported to the hospital in critical condition, but is currently reported to be in stable condition and recovering after surgery.
Sheriff Norris noted that law enforcement officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect during the standoff and declared the situation a mass casualty incident as first responders continued to evacuate personnel from the danger zone.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous and deliberate assault on our first responders.” He urged the public to keep the fallen and wounded firefighters and their families in their thoughts.
“This is a tragic day for Idaho. Our hearts are with those who serve on the front lines and the communities they protect,” the governor stated.
The FBI has joined the investigation and provided technical and tactical support at the scene.
As of Monday, the wildfire on Canfield Mountain remains active. Due to the severity of the ambush, fire suppression efforts were temporarily halted.
Emergency management officials have urged the public to stay clear of the area.
Sheriff Norris emphasized that while the immediate threat has passed, investigators are combing the scene for evidence, including any potential additional weapons left behind by Roley.
This remains an active investigation, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.