Suspected shooter’s North Idaho connections emerge

COEUR d’ALENE — After two firefighters were killed in what police described as an ambush, details about the suspected shooter’s connections to North Idaho are emerging. 

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52, and Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, were fatally shot Sunday while responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain that authorities said was set intentionally. 

Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Wess Roley and said he died by suicide after the shootout. Roley did not leave a manifesto, authorities said, and the motive for the killings remains under investigation. 

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this week that Roley had been living in North Idaho, apparently out of his vehicle, since 2024. Though he had family in Priest River, police said his ties to Coeur d’Alene are unclear.

Last year, Roley spent about six months working for Apex Tree Pro in Sandpoint. 

“He seemed like he was in a rough spot and just needed a job,” said Travis Miller, who hired Roley to work for his tree service business. 

The challenges Miller faced during his own young adulthood made him want to help Roley get on his feet. But personality conflicts ultimately caused Miller to terminate Roley’s employment. 

“It seemed like he was having a pretty negative impact on the crew,” Miller said. “I was getting a lot of feedback from the guys that he was making the workplace not fun. We try to have as much fun as we can. I don’t like to disrupt that flow of camaraderie.” 

Though Roley asked for his job back several times after his firing, Miller declined to hire him again. 

He said he knew Roley as someone who was struggling to make it on his own and seeking acceptance anywhere he could find it. 

“I can sympathize with him needing somebody to be proud of him,” Miller said. “It sucks that I pushed him away. By the sound of it, I wasn’t the only one.” 

Days after the shooting, Miller said he’s struggling to make sense of Roley’s actions. 

“I just picture his face,” he said, his voice wavering. “I can’t imagine the frame of mind he was in, because I’ve seen the other side of that kid. I don’t know if I have words to describe it — heartbroken, really. To know what he did to those people — there are no words for that, either.” 

Roley’s family members have also spoken out. In a statement released through an Arizona attorney, the suspected shooter’s family offered “heartfelt condolences” to the families of the slain firefighters and the community in Coeur d’Alene. 

“There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting,” the family said. “We do not understand why this happened or how this came about. Our hearts and spirits are broken for the lost and hurting and for our own loss, as well.” 

The family said they intend to cooperate with authorities during the investigation.