Hours before 20-year-old Wess Roley allegedly set fire to dry brush near Coeur d’Alene and opened fire on the firefighting crew dispatched to the blaze—killing Fire Chief John Morrison and Battalion Chief Frank Harwood—he shared a chilling image on Instagram reading “I’m going hunting.” That haunting line, lifted from Björk’s 1998 song of the same name, appeared over a photo of Roley in full camouflage, clutching a long-barreled rifle. Authorities now say that warning should have been taken far more seriously.
The image, which surfaced this week in search warrants and court filings reviewed by Reuters breaking news, was posted just four hours before Roley allegedly ambushed the first engine crew responding to the fire on Canfield Mountain. Investigators traced the metadata to a remote dirt access road that afternoon, confirming the photo was captured moments before he sparked the blaze.
@SheriffNorris “This post is a devastating sign of premeditation. We lost two heroes today.” Sheriff Bob Norris’s dispatch
Sheriff Bob Norris told reporters that the ambush was not a spur-of-the-moment act of violence. “He blocked our access with his truck, then opened fire with buckshot and rifled slugs,” Norris said at a CNN report. “The Instagram post was a clear warning—he intended to hunt people, not deer.”
Chief Morrison, 45, and Battalion Chief Harwood, 38, were among the region’s most respected first responders. Colleagues describe Morrison as a dedicated leader who mentored recruits for two decades, and Harwood as a fierce advocate for firefighter safety and mental health. A third firefighter, Dave Tysdal, remains hospitalized in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.
@APNews “Family, friends mourn two fallen chiefs—community gathers for vigil at Coeur d’Alene station.” Associated Press coverage
Roley’s social media history reveals a descent into obsession with firearms and a growing disdain for authority. Friends told The Daily Beast that he once aspired to become a volunteer firefighter before shifting to hunting videos and extremist memes. In one private group message, he wrote, “They come to save us, but what if they become my prey?”
Investigators have recovered deleted Snapchat and Telegram threads in which Roley discussed trapping law enforcement “like rabbits in a snare.” Those messages were authenticated by the FBI’s digital forensics lab and cited in the affidavit charging Roley with two counts of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder.
@FBI_West “Digital evidence indicates deliberate intent—no indication of mental health crisis at time of attack.” FBI West statement
Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area for hikers and ATV enthusiasts, has been a flashpoint for tensions between local authorities and off-road driving advocates. Roley’s father, Tom Roley, told NBC News his son “felt harassed by rangers and firefighters enforcing no-burn orders.” Yet friends say those orders were publicized on the county website and local radio—raising questions about the suspect’s motive.
The ambush unfolded Sunday evening when Morrison’s crew arrived at the scene of the deliberately set fire. Body-camera footage, released by the sheriff’s office, shows firefighters advancing up a hillside before muzzle flashes erupt. Dispatcher audio captured a chilling 911 call: “Shot fired! Chiefs down! Get units BACK—this is an ambush!”
In the wake of the attack, Coeur d’Alene’s mayor, Evelyn Thompson, ordered flags at city hall and all fire stations to fly at half-staff. “These heroes ran toward danger to protect us,” Thompson said in a statement carried by Idaho Statesman. “Our community will never forget their sacrifice.”
@IAFF “Our hearts are heavy. We stand with Coeur d’Alene firefighters—no one should face a gun when answering a fire alarm.” International Association of Fire Fighters tweet
National attention on first-responder safety has been growing. A FEMA study released last month documented a 27% uptick in violence against firefighters over five years, prompting calls for law-enforcement escorts on high-risk calls. Following the Idaho ambush, the Kootenai County Fire & Rescue announced that all brush-fire responses will now include a deputy on scene.
@FEMA “Firefighters are vulnerable—integrated policing and fire tactics are essential.” FEMA advisory
Roley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound approximately six hours later, his body found alongside his ramshackle Ford F-150. Law enforcement pieced together his movements via cell-tower pings and CCTV from passing motorists, culminating in a standoff in the Boise National Forest where negotiators found his final Instagram post still open on his phone.
In Boise, state Senator Mike Crump introduced the “First Responder Protection Act,” mandating stiffer penalties for assaults on emergency personnel, including minimum 25-year sentences for ambush-style attacks. “When someone harms those who save lives, they forfeit their humanity,” Crump said during a Capitol press conference covered by Idaho Legislature News.
Psychologists warn that extreme online behavior can be a red flag. Dr. Linda Gregson of the Idaho Psychological Association told the USA Today that “those fixated on violent imagery and ‘tests of survival’ often slip through the cracks until it’s too late.” She urged families and community leaders to report alarming posts immediately and expand mental-health resources for young adults exhibiting obsession with weapons or First Amendment “provocations.”
@IdahoPsych “Unusual fixation on violence online requires swift intervention.” Mental health warning
As Coeur d’Alene begins to heal, memorials have sprung up at both fire stations and along Canfield Mountain road—flowers, helmets, handwritten notes reading “We stand with our brothers in blue and gear.” Under the hashtags #NeverForgetCoeur and #HuntNoMore, residents share photos of candlelight vigils and youth-organized fundraisers to support the Morrison and Harwood families.
@CoeurCommunity “Small towns stand strong—fundraiser for fallen chiefs raises $200K in 24 hours.” Community update
In the coming weeks, Kootenai County officials plan to unveil new protocols for joint fire–law enforcement responses, while mental-health providers schedule free screening events for first responders exposed to trauma. The chilling “I’m going hunting” post will remain a stark emblem of caution: when desperation and obsession collide, even those who protect us become targets.
