Within the wake of the deadly ambush on responding firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the suspect’s grandfather spoke to ABC Information on Monday, sharing his grief for these killed and injured within the assault.
Legislation enforcement officers recognized Wess Roley because the suspected gunman within the ambush on Sunday that left two firefighters killed and one other injured.
He was discovered lifeless on Canfield Mountain after an hourslong manhunt with a shotgun close by, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned. Officers consider he shot himself after the assault.
Talking by way of telephone in a recorded interview with ABC Information, as seen on “World Information Tonight with David Muir,” a person describing himself as Wess Roley’s paternal grandfather, Dale Roley, mentioned he was shocked to listen to that his grandson was named because the suspect within the lethal ambush.
“No person desires to assume that their son or grandson goes to do that,” Dale Roley mentioned.
Authorities shared a picture of a social media put up of suspect Wess Roley throughout a press convention in Hayden, Idaho, June 30, 2025.
ABC Information
Dale Roley mentioned these killed whereas responding to the comb hearth, which officers consider the suspect purposely began earlier than the ambush, “did not deserve it.”
“I really feel extra unhappy for the those that received killed than I do for him as a result of they did not –They did not deserve it. It was simply, they did not go to battle. This wasn’t a part of their job description.”
He mentioned the final time he spoke to Wess Roley was about 4 weeks in the past — when he mentioned his grandson misplaced his cellular phone and apparently by no means changed it.
Dale Roley mentioned his grandson went to work for a tree firm in Idaho a few yr in the past, however he did not know which firm.
“He had his personal residence. He was doing good,” Dale Roley mentioned. “He had cash. He used to go strolling in that park on a regular basis. I do know that as a result of he had instructed me about it. “
Dale Roley mentioned that after Wess graduated from highschool in Arizona, he got here and lived with him in Oklahoma for practically 9 months earlier than Wess moved to Idaho, the place his father lives.
That is the place Wess started working for a tree firm, Dale Roley mentioned, including that within the final six months, his grandson appeared to turn out to be “form of a loner.”
Two individuals are lifeless after firefighters had been ambushed by a gunman, or a number of gunmen, whereas responding to a brush hearth in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, officers mentioned.
KXLY
In an announcement on Wednesday, Wess Roley’s household’s legal professional Justin P. Whittenton shared an announcement on behalf of the household, saying they “intend to totally cooperate with authorities in in search of solutions.”
“Right now, we, the household of Wess Roley want to supply our most heartfelt condolences to the households of these whose lives had been taken and to the group of Coeur d’Alene at massive,” the household mentioned within the assertion.
“There are not any phrases that may suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by these affected by this capturing. We don’t perceive why this occurred or how this took place,” the household added.
“Our hearts and spirits are damaged for the misplaced and hurting, and for our personal loss as nicely,” the assertion mentioned.
