Was Idaho Shooting Suspect A Russian? Key Facts About Wess Roley

Last Updated:June 30, 2025, 23:19 IST

The attacker used high-powered rifles and made it clear that they had no intention of surrendering, the police said.

Idaho shooter identified as Wess Roley (AP Image)

The man who carried out a deadly attack on firefighters in the northwestern US state of Idaho was identified as Wess Roley. According to the officials, he started a brush fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene on Sunday evening, likely to lure emergency workers to the scene.

When the firefighters arrived, he started shooting, killing two and seriously injuring another. He was later found dead with his gun beside him. The authorities are now investigating why he carried out the planned attack.

Who Was Wess Roley – The Idaho Shooter?

Roley was a man of 20 years of age, Associated Press reported.He started the fire to ambush the firefighters deliberately before opening fire on them.The motive of his attack is yet to be ascertained. He was found dead next to his weapon, however, the authorities are probing the cause of his death.Some reports claim Roley was from Russia and had previously lived in Florida and New York.Some unconfirmed reports suggest that he shifted from Arizona to Idaho to work at the company run by his father.

A fire was still burning on the mountainside in Kootenai County—a well-known park and hiking spot—while police were exchanging gunfire with the shooter or possibly multiple shooters, Sheriff Robert Norris told reporters.

The attacker used high-powered rifles, the sheriff said, and made it clear that they had no intention of surrendering.

Serious gun violence happens often in the United States, where many states have few restrictions on buying guns, even though many people support stronger gun control laws.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 189 mass shootings in the US so far this year, AFP reported. The group defines a mass shooting as an incident where at least four people, not including the shooter, are killed or injured.

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United States of America (USA)

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News world Was Idaho Shooting Suspect A Russian? Key Facts About Wess Roley