The man accused of killing 2 Idaho firefighters had once aspired to be one

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A 20-year-old man’s life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to "kind of go downhill.” The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January, Franks said Monday.

Roley, who authorities say took his own life after Sunday's shootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting careers in Idaho spanned nearly half a century combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42, with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding law enforcement to every call, no matter how routine.

“I don’t know that we’re ever going to be able to guarantee people’s peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this,” Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said. “But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders.”

Roley had set a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities. The firefighters who rushed to the scene found themselves under fire and took cover behind fire trucks.

“There was an interaction with the firefighters,” Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. “It has something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.”

Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley's body in the mountains, his firearm beside him. He had killed himself, the sheriff said.

Roley had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police, Norris said. A motive was still unknown, he said.

He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho “for the better part of 2024,” although it was unclear why he was there, Norris said.

When Roley was living with Franks, his apartment cameras caught Roley throwing gang signs at them, which worried Franks to the point that he called police.

The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbors reported that Roley’s vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle.

Hours after Sunday's shooting, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters’ bodies were taken to the medical examiner’s office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Coeur d’Alene.

On Tuesday, a procession of police and fire vehicles accompanied a hearse as onlookers along a quiet street held flags and in some cases saluted as the vehicles got underway. People dotted an overpass, where a fire truck bearing a large U.S. flag stood, as the procession passed on the interstate below.

Gov. Brad Little ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters until the day after their memorial service.

“All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before,” he said in a statement.

Harwood, one of the victims of the shooting, had been with the county fire department for 17 years, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference Monday. Harwood was married and had two children, and he also was a veteran of the Army National Guard.

Morrison, who was also killed, started his career with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department in 1996 and had also worked as a paramedic.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries.

“We still are in shock and are struggling to understand why someone would target unarmed, selfless public servants,” Coeur d’Alene Mayor Woody McEvers said.

By Monday afternoon, the fire was “reasonably contained,” and responders had “stopped significant forward progress," Way said. The Idaho Department of Lands said it had burned about 26 acres (10.5 hectares).

Associated Press journalists Hallie Golden and Martha Bellisle in Seattle and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report.

The Coeur d'Alene Fire Dept. hangs an American flag to honor the firefighters who were killed Sunday, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Coeur d'Alene firefighter Cody Moore greets friends, Troy Serticchio and Brayden, 8, as a crowd gathers to honor the firefighters who were killed Sunday, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A crowd gathers on an overpass over I-90 to honor the firefighters who were killed Sunday, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Kerry Kieres hugs her husband, Chris Kieres captain with Couer d'Alene Fire Dept., as a crowd gathers to honor the firefighters who were killed Sunday, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Flowers are seen at the Fallen Heroes Plaza at Cherry Hill Park near the scene the day after a shooter ambushed and killed firefighters responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain Monday, June 30, 2025, in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Kootenai County Fire & Rescue commissioner Andy Boyle, facing, gets a hug following a press conference announcing the names of the firefighters killed and wounded the day before by a shooter while responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain, Monday, June 30, 2025, in Post Falls, Idaho. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Chief Christopher Way, center, speaks as Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief Tom Greif, front left, looks on during a press conference announcing the names of the firefighters killed and wounded the day before by a shooter while responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain, Monday, June 30, 2025, in Post Falls, Idaho. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Handout screenshots of suspect Wess Roley's Instagram story are seen at the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office during a press conference the day after Roley ambushed, shot and killed multiple firefighters responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain Monday, June 30, 2025, in Hayden, Idaho. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A firefighter with the United States Forest Service prepares gear at a staging area near the scene the day after a shooter ambushed and killed multiple firefighters responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain Monday, June 30, 2025, in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A procession from Kootenai Health heads to the medical examiner's office in Spokane, Wash., after firefighters were killed Sunday, June 29, 2025, when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)

A line of wildland firefighters arrive at the scene the day after a shooter ambushed and killed multiple firefighters responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain Monday, June 30, 2025, in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Law enforcement and emergency responders at Cherry Hill Park off 15th Street on Sunday afternoon, June 29, 2025, following reports of an ambush shooting attack on Canfield Mountain, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)