With investigators on the ground trying to figure out what happened after three firefighters were ambushed and killed in rural Idaho, a more complete picture is emerging of the perpetrator of the attack: 20-year-old Wess Roley, a high school student who reportedly had a troubled past and was described by peers as being disturbed, withdrawn, and fascinated by extremist imagery and firearms.
Roley, a man who police say committed suicide after the Sunday ambush near Canfield Mountain, shot and killed Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Harwood and Coeur d Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison and wounded firefighter Dave Tysdal. The assault shocked citizens of Coeur dAlene, a picturesque Idaho community better-known as the route of hiking trails than as a place of violence.
The reason behind the fatal shooting is still being investigated. However, interviews with former students of Roley reflect disturbing signs that pre-date the tragedy by years.
The Whole Group of Us Used to be Afraid of Him
Former classmates of Wess Roley report that he had an interest in violence and Nazi symbols, as well as guns, when he was in middle school.
Harry Standley, another school mate and neighbor of Roley told USA TODAY that he had been apprehensive of Roley since he had seen his notebook.
Standley said, his good friend was drawing swastikas and guns in his notebook. We all were afraid of him.”
According to Standley and others, Roley appeared to be a loner. He was not a great friend to many; indeed chatty enough to attract attention, frequently in embarrassing ways. He explained to classmates that he was going to enroll in ROTC and at one time arrived with a buzz cut and was excited to speak about the military.
Nonetheless, his antics were often viewed as childish attempts at making a name.
Dieter Denen, a fellow schoolmate of Roley at both elementary and high school, remembered being shown the same graphic images.
Denen said, referring to the boys, that they all believed that he was just joking around-just being edgy. To the benefit of hindsight, however, perhaps it was not just a phase.
Six-Hour Standoff Turns to Tragedy
The fatal ambush occurred on Sunday, June 30, in the heavily forested hills of Canfield Mountain, a hiking destination to the east of Coeur dAlene. There is little to go on, but apparently firefighters were called in to extinguish a small fire when a sniper ambush was made.
Two were killed and one seriously injured by the time the shooting ceased.
More than 300 local, state and federal officers were present in the developing emergency. Wess Roley was shot to death after a violent six-hour search around the area of the attack with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police have not publicly raised a motive but have revealed that Roley acted alone.
Past Puzzles
According to Standley, Roley was sent home midway through his sophomore year, but why is not clear.
He remembered, there was something wrong with a girl. And since then he simply vanished out of school.
Although he had initially appeared to be a humorous or even charming schoolmate, Standley explains that it was difficult not to notice the darker traits of Roley, including his gun and militarism addiction.
According to Standley, he used to be fixated on weapons and constantly discussed the war-related topics.
Lost Red Flags?
The history of the shooter makes it questionable how the red flags are treated in school systems and small communities. Although Roleys interest in violence and extremism was concerning to the peers, it does not seem that any official report or action was taken.
Domestic extremism experts describe Roley as a typical profile of an increasing concern in America: young men who become entangled in violent ideologies, usually online, and fall through the cracks before it is too late.
Will Carless, who has been covering domestic extremism in USA TODAY, said, we are encountering more lone-wolf attacks involving radicalized individuals operating in isolation. In most cases, they give indications years before that there is something wrong-but usually no one listens.
Remembering the Dead
As investigators are still trying to put together what could have caused the attack, the Coeur dAlene community is in mourning.
Chief Frank Harwood, and Battalion Chief John Morrison, were honored fire fighting veterans with decades of experience, and leaders in their communities.
More than 100 people, including firefighters, family members and local residents, gathered outside the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue headquarters in a candlelight vigil.
Fire Captain Melissa Wren said, Frank and John were heroes. They went in to danger, as they always went. No, we will never forget them!”
The wounded firefighter is named Dave Tysdal who is in stable condition in a local hospital.
A Shocked Town
To the people of Coeur dAlene, the disaster was a scar to what should have been a peaceful weekend summertime.
Linda Harwell, a retired nurse said, I have been living here all my life. Nothing of the sort ever occurs. You read about that sort of thing in the newspaper, but not here. To our firefighters, no.”
As the investigation is still going on, community leaders are demanding unity and concern, particularly towards youth who could be in isolation or with mental health issues.
Sheriff Bob Norris said, this is not something that can be normalized. Every warning, every cry of distress must be addressed with seriousness, because the effects are just too much at stake.
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