A 20-year-old man—who dreamed of becoming a firefighter—turned his weapon on the very heroes he once admired.
His grandfather has now revealed a possible motive for why Wess Val Roley allegedly started a fire and then lured firefighters into his slaughter site.
Wess fatally shot two firefighters and wounded a third in the sniper-style attack. His body was later found beside his weapon.
Highlights
- Wess Val Roley fatally shot two firefighters and wounded a third in a sniper-style attack.
- He dreamed of becoming a firefighter, but “something must have snapped,” his grandfather said.
- Former classmates claimed he was “obsessed with g*ns” and was expelled over some “trouble with a girl.”
- The slain firefighters were identified as Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and Battalion Chief John Morrison.
“Something must have snapped,” his grandfather said.
Wess Val Roley dreamed of becoming a firefighter, but “something must have snapped,” his grandfather said
Image credits: Facebook
Wess’ grandfather Dale Roley described Wess as “nervous,” “high-strung,” and “kind of a loner.”
But that seemed like “normal issues for kids these days,” he told NBC News.
The attack “didn’t make sense” because he “loved firefighters” and aspired to be one himself, Dale added.
Image credits: KREM 2 News
Hours before opening fire on the firefighters, Wess shared an ominous Instagram Story of him wearing a balaclava.
He appeared to have coal-like soot smeared on his face and had a belt of rifle shells strapped across his chest.
“I’m going hunting,” were the lyrics of the Björk song playing in the background.
The 20-year-old shooter shared an ominous Instagram Story hours before the attack that was later deleted
Image credits: NBC News
The violent attack unfolded on Sunday at Canfield Mountain, near the town of Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.
Officials believe Wess intentionally started a wildfire, which prompted firefighters to respond at around 1:30 p.m., according to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris.
Image credits: NBC News
However, the firefighters were met with a volley of g*nshots and sheer pandemonium when they arrived.
“We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional,” the sheriff said at a news conference. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
Wess hid in the rugged terrain and unleashed a volley of g*nfire at the firefighters as they hid behind trees and a firetruck
Image credits: Facebook
First responders made urgent calls for help as Wess ambushed them with a high-powered rifle while hiding in the rugged terrain.
“Everybody’s shot up here ... send law enforcement now,” one dispatch was heard saying on their radio.
Some of the crew members hid behind trees and a fire truck. Others climbed higher on the mountain and took cover.
Meanwhile, the attack hid in the rugged terrain and kept shooting, while the blaze continued spreading across 20 acres.
Former classmates of Wess said he had “N*zi tendencies” and was “obsessed with g*ns”
Image credits: Facebook
Two firefighters lost their lives and a third is now stable, but he is still “fighting for his life,” Bob said.
“June 29, 2025, is a day that we will not forget in this community. It is the day evil showed his face,” said Bruce Mattare, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners in Kootenai County.
“And I cannot fathom why anyone would commit such a heinous act,” he added. “This kind of senseless violence is unheard of here.”
Image credits: Facebook
The sniper’s body was found next to his weapon about six hours after firefighters responded to what they thought was a routine brush fire.
The motive behind the shooting was not immediately clear, and investigators did not find a manifesto.
However, Dale speculated whether his grandson was “rejected” from joining the fire department.
“He loved firefighters ... Maybe he got rejected or something,” Wess' grandfather said
Image credits: Austin-American Statesman
“He actually really respected law enforcement,” Dale told NBC News. “He loved firefighters. It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters. Maybe he got rejected or something.”
He said his grandson’s height of around 5-feet-8 might have stopped his firefighting dreams from coming true.
“I know he had been in contact to get a job with a fire department,” the grandfather added. “He wanted to be part of a team that he sort of idolized.”
Image credits: 10 News
Wess’ mother Heather Lynn Cuchiara and father Jason Roley divorced in November 2015.
It is believed the parents had issues, and Heather had sought an order of protection against her then-husband in 2015.
In one incident that year, Jason allegedly went to her home, punched holes in the walls and damaged her cellphone. He also allegedly pushed her to the ground and threatened to end his own life.
He was arrested for criminal damage and assault over the incident.
The attacker's parents Heather Lynn Cuchiara and Jason Roley divorced in 2015
Image credits: Facebook
Former classmates of Wess said he had “N*zi tendencies” and was “obsessed with g*ns.”
“My good friend saw drawings of sw*st*kas and g*ns in his notebook. We were all pretty scared of him,” Harry Standley, who used to play the game Call of Duty with Wess, told USA Today.
Image credits: Associated Press
Harry also claimed Wess was expelled and left high school in the middle of sophomore year over some “trouble with a girl.”
“Everybody just thought he was weird,” he added.
The slain firefighters were identified as Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and Battalion Chief John Morrison
Image credits: KREM 2 News
The community is now grieving the tragic passing of two slain firefighters, identified as Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, and Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52.
Engineer Dave Tysdal was wounded in the attack and underwent two successful surgeries on Monday.
If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm or thoughts of ending their own life, help is available: International Hotlines
“He was very clearly a white supremacist, or at least a sympathizer,” one commented online
