Police identify 20-year-old suspect in Idaho firefighter ambush

Police sources have identified 20-year-old Wess Roley as the suspect in the sniper attack on firefighters in Idaho, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

Two firefighters were killed and a third injured on Sunday after a gunman shot at them as they arrived at a blaze at Canfield Mountain, just north of Coeur d’Alene.

Authorities believe Roley deliberately lit the fire to lure first responders to the area.

A police tactical team later “located a deceased male” – believed to be the shooter – close to where the attack took place. Authorities are yet to comment on a motive, or reveal how Roley died.

“We do believe that the suspect started the fire,” Norris told a late night news conference on Sunday.

“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance.

“We did lose a Coeur d’Alene firefighter, and we did lose a firefighter from the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.”

A third was “fighting for his life, but is in stable condition”, he said.

The first report of a fire in the mountainside community was made around 13:21 PST (21:21 BST), which was followed 40 minutes later by reports firefighters were being shot at, Norris said.

The fire grew to 20 acres after it was first reported and continued to burn into Sunday night, Sheriff Bob Norris said.

More than 300 law enforcement officers from city, county, state and federal authorities to the shooting, including two helicopters with snipers on board.

Norris said Roley allegedly used a high-powered sporting rifle to fire rapidly at first responders, with officers initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.

After an hours-long barrage of gunfire, the suspect was found using mobile phone data.

It was unclear whether the suspect took his own life or had been hit by an officer, Norris said.