Suspect Identified in Idaho Sniper Shooting

U.S.|Suspect Identified in Deadly Ambush of Idaho Firefighters

The man suspected of shooting firefighters on Sunday as they responded to a brush fire in Idaho has been identified, a law enforcement official said on Monday.

The suspect, who was found dead at the scene, was identified as Wess Roley, 20, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the official said.

Two firefighters were killed, and a third was seriously wounded in the attack, which took place on a mountain with popular hiking trails outside Coeur d’Alene, according to the authorities. They said the fire appeared to have been set intentionally to lure the firefighters to the scene.

Law enforcement officers exchanged fire with the gunman while the wildfire burned. Later, using cellphone signal data, officials found the body of the suspect on the mountain with a firearm nearby, Sheriff Robert Norris of Kootenai County said at a news conference on Sunday night. The authorities said they believed the suspect had acted alone.

Mr. Roley’s grandfather, Dale Roley, said in an interview on Monday that Wess had expressed interest in becoming a forest firefighter. The suspect, who turned 20 in May, moved to Idaho last year and was living in his own apartment and working for a tree company, his grandfather said.

“He was just trying to figure his life out,” Mr. Roley said. “He seemed to be a little bit optimistic.”