A Young Man's Descent and a Tragic Firefighter Attack in Idaho

In the months leading up to a tragic event, the life of a young man named Wess Roley seemed to spiral downward. He was living out of his car, a stark change from his previous living situation. His former roommate, TJ Franks Jr. , noticed Roley's behavior changing, including shaving off his long hair and generally going "downhill. " The two had lived together in Sandpoint, Idaho, but Roley moved out in January. Roley is suspected of shooting and killing two experienced firefighters and seriously injuring a third during a wildfire response near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The victims, Frank Harwood and John Morrison, had decades of firefighting experience between them. Their deaths have deeply affected their colleagues, leading to increased security measures for all firefighting calls. The incident began when Roley allegedly started a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain. When firefighters arrived, they came under gunfire and had to take cover behind their trucks. Law enforcement, including helicopters with snipers, responded to the scene. Roley was eventually found dead in the mountains, with a firearm nearby, having taken his own life. Roley had minor interactions with local police and had once aspired to be a firefighter himself. His ties to California and Arizona were noted, but his reasons for being in Idaho remained unclear. His former roommate had called the police after seeing Roley throw gang signs on apartment cameras, which caused concern. Additionally, Roley's vehicle was left running for about 12 hours, prompting a call from the landlord. The community came together to honor the fallen firefighters, with people lining the interstate holding American flags as the victims' bodies were transported to the medical examiner's office. Governor Brad Little ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in their honor. The firefighters' bravery and selflessness were highlighted, as they confront danger daily but had never faced such a violent act before. One of the victims, Frank Harwood, had been with the county fire department for 17 years and was a veteran of the Army National Guard. John Morrison had started his career in 1996 and also worked as a paramedic. The surviving victim, David Tysdal, sustained critical injuries but underwent successful surgeries. The mayor of Coeur d'Alene expressed shock and disbelief at the targeting of unarmed, selfless public servants. By Monday afternoon, the fire was reasonably contained, with responders stopping its significant forward progress. The fire had burned about 26 acres. The incident left many questions unanswered, including the motive behind Roley's actions.