The man that the authorities believe Mortally killed two Idaho firefighters Before committing suicide, had once tried to enter the army and left a note addressed to his father in which he wrote that he was “going to combat,” Kootenai County Sheriff said on Tuesday.
Wess Roley20 years old, put a brush fire on the Canfield mountain near the heart of Alene on June 29 and Then opened fire on the firefighters who replied, Authorities have declared, in what they described as an ambush. He then committed suicide.
Roley had attempted to enter the American army in Arizona in 2023 and again in Idaho in 2024, but he never followed the appointments and was disqualified, the Sheriff’s Bureau of Kootenai said on Tuesday at a press conference on Tuesday.
He also entered a fire station in Alene in May in May and asked to become a firefighter, believing that he could start that day, said the Sheriff of the County of Kootenai, Bob Norris.
When he was told that there had been a process, including tests and interviews, Roley became frustrated, and “he was described because he left in a very, very frustrated and agitated state,” said Norris.
A handwritten letter was found in the Roley truck addressed to his father, Norris said at the Tuesday press conference. Investigators found someone’s drawing with what seemed to be a shotgun with the words “Kill Kill Kill,” he said.
“Tomorrow, I will have in combat, if I will survive, it would be with the most dishonor,” said the letter found in the truck, said Norris, showing an image of the document. The letter also said: “I will see you goodbye”.
Around 1 pm on the day of the shooting, Roley “committed a criminal fire by lighting a series of fires to launch a response from local fire services,” said Norris.
At around 1:40 p.m., the firefighters asked Roley to move her truck and “contact is described as conflictual,” said Norris.
Around 1:50 p.m., Roley fired and injured the heart firefighter David Tysdal said Norris.
“In a few milliseconds”, he then fatally killed the chief of the Fire de Coeur d’Alene, John Morrison, the chief of the fire and rescue battalion of the county of Kootenai, Frank J. Harwood, the sheriff.
Firefighters died instantly, said Norris. Roley’s body was spotted by a drone around 6:53 p.m. in the highly wooded area, and officials said he had died of a self-inflicted ball injury.
“It was a premeditated ambush, a pure act of evil against the people we are looking for to get help,” said Norris.
The investigation remains in progress, he said.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or send an SMS 988, or go to 988lifeline.orgTo reach the suicide line of life & Crisis. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, in 800-273-8255or visit Speakingofsuicide.com/resources.
