NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Gleammour AquaFresh
NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Home Local News Former Aspiring Firefighter Accused of Killing 2 Idaho Firefighters

Former Aspiring Firefighter Accused of Killing 2 Idaho Firefighters

The man accused of killing 2 Idaho firefighters had once aspired to be one
Up next
Man in a light gray shirt giving a thumbs up.
Who is Bryan Kohberger? Man accused of Idaho college murders
Published on 01 July 2025
Author
NewsFinale Journal
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp


COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – COEUR D’A 20-year-old man’s life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to “kind of go downhill.” The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January, Franks said Monday.

Roley, who authorities say took his own life after Sunday’s shootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting carriers in Idaho spanned nearly half a century combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42, with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding law enforcement to every call, no matter how routine.

“I don’t know that we’re ever going to be able to guarantee people’s peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this,” Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said. “But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders.”

Roley had set a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities. The firefighters who rushed to the scene found themselves under fire and took cover behind fire trucks.

“There was an interaction with the firefighters,” Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. “It has something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.”

Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley’s body in the mountains, his firearm beside him. He had killed himself, the sheriff said.

Roley had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police, Norris said. A motive was still unknown, he said.

He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho “for the better part of 2024,” although it was unclear why he was there, Norris said.

When Roley was living with Franks, his apartment cameras caught Roley throwing gang signs at them, which worried Franks to the point that he called police.

The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbors reported that Roley’s vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle.

Hours after Sunday’s shooting, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters’ bodies were taken to the medical examiner’s office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Coeur d’Alene.

Gov. Brad Little ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters until the day after their memorial service.

“All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before,” he said in a statement.

Harwood, one of the victims of the shooting, had been with the county fire department for 17 years, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference Monday. Harwood was married and had two children, and he also was a veteran of the Army National Guard.

Morrison, who was also killed, started his career with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department in 1996 and had also worked as a paramedic.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries.

“We still are in shock and are struggling to understand why someone would target unarmed, selfless public servants,” said Coeur d’Alene Mayor Woody McEvers.

By Monday afternoon, the fire was “reasonably contained,” and responders had “stopped significant forward progress,” Way said. The Idaho Department of Lands said it had burned about 26 acres (10.5 hectares).

___

Associated Press journalists Hallie Golden and Martha Bellisle in Seattle and Ed White in Detroit to this report.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like
Can you change the color of your Florida license plate? 
  • Local News

Is It Possible to Customize the Color of Your Florida License Plate?

If you’ve scrolled through social media lately, chances are you’ve seen ads…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Women To Watch: Dr. Marlo Vernon
  • Local News

Notable Women: Dr. Marlo Vernon

AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Dr. Marlo Vernon is a soft spoken woman…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
State Rep calls 7-OH in kratom products the 'Wild Wild West' as FDA asks for ban
  • Local News

State Rep calls 7-OH in kratom products the 'Wild Wild West' as FDA asks for ban

TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) — The Food and Drug Administration wants to ban…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Norwegian Cruise Line to open new water park on private island next year
  • Local News

Norwegian Cruise Line to open new water park on private island next year

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Norwegian Cruise Line announced Tuesday that it is…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Senate rejects bid to halt sale of bombs and rifles to Israel, but Democratic opposition grows
  • Local News

Senate Blocks Effort to Stop Weapons Sale to Israel, Amid Rising Democratic Dissent

WASHINGTON – The Senate rejected an effort Wednesday from Sen. Bernie Sanders…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Russia hits Kyiv with missile and drone attack, killing 6 and injuring 52
  • Local News

Missile and Drone Assault on Kyiv by Russia Results in 6 Dead and 52 Injured

KYIV – Russia attacked Ukraine’s capital with missiles and drones overnight, killing…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Antipsychotic meds, suicide note found in NYC mass shooter's apartment
  • Local News

Antipsychotic Medications and Suicide Note Discovered in NYC Mass Shooter’s Apartment

NEW YORK (WPIX) – Antipsychotic medication and a suicide note to his…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Man accused of sexually abusing 15-year-old girl in Marion County
  • Local News

Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of Teen in Marion County

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A man arrested Monday in Marion County is…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Top comedian shares photo from hospital bed after being rushed to A&E
  • Celeb Lifestyle

Famous comedian posts hospital bed selfie after emergency room visit

Comedian Jason Manford has revealed he was rushed to hospital and underwent…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Authorities say gang activity caused the death of a 10-year-old Beech Island girl, 5 people arrested
  • Local News

Police Blame Gang Involvement for Fatal Incident of 10-Year-Old Beech Island Girl; 5 Arrested

BEECH ISLAND, S.C. () – Five people have been arrested and charged…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Toddler Boy Died in Hot Car After State Worker Picked Up Tobacco, Forgot to Take Him to Daycare
  • Crime

‘This baby died in a car’: Child Services Worker Admits to Leaving Tot Inside Hot Car for 5 Hours, Following Visitation with Dad

New details have emerged in connection with a 3-year-old Alabama boy who…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
Jun 13th 2022 : Closeup of a woman holding and serving two cup of hot coffee at Starbucks coffee shop, Chiang mai Thailand
  • Health

5 Starbucks Orders to Help Trim Your Waistline

Starbucks is a popular choice for my family in the mornings, especially…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 31, 2025
NewsFinale Journal
  • Home
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Advertise Here
  • Donate