Officials in Idaho say suspect in ambush shooting has ties to Arizona
(NBC, KYMA/KECY) - The suspect who ambushed fire crews in Idaho, killing two and seriously injuring a third, has ties to Arizona, according to officials.
Investigators in Idaho are trying to piece together a tragedy.
They say 20-year-old Wess Roley set a brush fire as a trap in a rural area near Coeur d'Alene. Then, he opened fire on responding fire crews.
The ambush left two firefighters, John Morrison and Frank Harwood, dead while a third firefighter, David Tysdal, is fighting for his life.
"Roley was found to be in possession of a flint starter and we believe that was his method for starting the fire," said Sheriff Bob Norris with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.
Roley posted a now-deleted Instagram story showing himself wearing camouflage and a mask and carrying ammunition.
"We did have reports that he was shooting at first responders via a tree," Sheriff Norris shared.
Roley's body was found with a gun hours after the shooting, leaving investigators with questions about his motive.
His grandfather told NBC News at one point, Roley wanted to become a firefighter saying, "It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters. Maybe he got rejected or something."
His grandfather also confirmed Roley attended school in Phoenix, where some of his relatives still live, but moved to Idaho to live and work with his father.
Maricopa County Family Court records show Roley's parents divorced in 2015 amid allegations of violence.
Roley's mother filed an order of protection against his father for herself and for Roley, who was 10 at the time, stating the father threatened her saying he would be waiting outside with a sniper rifle and would burn the place down.
The protective order was granted, but later amended to allow contact with Roley.
"We have not been able to find any manifesto," Norris remarked.
Idaho officials say despite previous minor interactions with Roley, asking him to leave a property where he was sleeping in his vehicle, they have yet to find a criminal record.
"We don't have any indication of any motive at this time," Norris expressed.
