THE suspected gunman who lit a wildfire to lure firefighters into tackling a blaze before shooting them dead shared a sinister warning on social media – hours before the ambush.
Wess Roley, 20, allegedly killed two firefighters and left a third fighting for their life after opening fire just outside Coeur d’Alene in Idaho on Sunday.
APWess Roley, the man suspected of lighting a wildfire to lure firefighters before shooting them dead, shared a sinister warning on social media – hours before the ambush[/caption]
FacebookRoley had aspirations of becoming a firefighter, his grandpa said[/caption]
FacebookGun-wielding Roley with his mom Heather Lynn Kuuipo Cuchiara[/caption]
Roley was found dead around six hours after fire crews received the initial calls about the blaze in the mountain range.
Cops on Monday shared photos of Roley wearing camouflaged gear that he shared on social media.
He shared lyrics from a Bjork song, warning: “I’m going hunting.”
Investigators are still probing what motivated Roley to carry out the shooting – which has left family members reeling.
Police revealed they didn’t find any manifesto and said he was living out of his car at the time of the attack.
Roley’s grandpa, Dale, said he had no idea his grandson could carry out the killings.
Dale told the New York Times that he was close with Roley, but the pair lost contact around a month ago.
He said that Roley had lost his cell phone.
Dale revealed that his grandson had dreams of becoming a firefighter.
“He loved firefighters,” he told NBC News.
“It didn’t make sense that he was shooting firefighters.
“He wanted to be part of a team that he sort of idolized.”
Dale speculated that Roley may have been rejected as he said he was actively pursuing that career path.
He said Roley’s height might have contributed to his rejection.
He suggested his grandson would’ve fitted in well in the fire service because of his tree climbing skills.
APSmoke billowing from the mountain range[/caption]
GettyThe shooting unfolded in an Idaho mountain range[/caption]
“He was just trying to figure his life out,” he told The New York Times.
“He seemed to be a little bit optimistic.”
Dale described his grandson as someone who was sometimes nervous and said he was a kind of loner.
But, he stressed that he had never shown violence toward others.
“Something must’ve snapped. He did have a lot of heart,” Dale said.
Former classmates of Roley told USA Today he had an obsession with guns.
“My good friend saw drawings of swastikas and guns in his notebook,” Harry Standley, who went to middle school with Roley, told the outlet.
Standley and Roley used to play Call of Duty together during their childhood.
Standley also claimed that Roley boasted about wanting to join the Reserve Officers Training Corps.
Cops suspect Roley climbed a tree to carry out the ambush.
‘TARGETED ATTACK’
Fire crews swooped on the scene as they responded to a brush fire at around 1:30pm in the Canfield Mountain range.
Roley allegedly opened fire after being asked to move his car.
The shooter exchanged fire with officers and a cell signal from 3:15pm was detected in an area of the mountains.
Investigators honed in on the area after realizing it hadn’t changed for a period of time.
Roley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to cops.
Cops also discovered some rifled slugs, as well as smaller fragments.
John Morrison, of the Coeur D’Alene Fire Department, and Frank J. Harwood have been identified as the victims.
Battalion Harwood had been part of the Kootenai County Fire Department for 17 years.
Meanwhile, Morrison had been with the department since 1996.
Dave Tysdal has been identified as the firefighter who was injured.
Cops said that the firefighters killed did not have a chance.
Bob Norris, the Kootenai County Sheriff, labeled the shooting an “intentional ambush.”
Distressing audio captured how the firefighters targeted tried to escape the bullets.
“Everybody’s shot up here,” cried one first responder in the audio streamed on Broadcastify.
“Send law enforcement now.”
The officer said he was being pinned, adding: “It is clear to me that this fire was set intentionally to draw us in.”
APLocals pay tribute to the deceased firefighters by holding up signs[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
