The city of Coeur d’Alene is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved heroes—Battalion Chief John Morrison, who was fatally shot while responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain on Sunday. Morrison, a 28-year veteran of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, was one of two firefighters killed in what officials have described as a premeditated ambush by 20-year-old suspect Wess Roley.

During a solemn press conference on Monday, Fire Chief Tom Greif recounted Morrison’s long, decorated career. From his beginnings as a firefighter to becoming a battalion chief, Morrison had dedicated nearly three decades to serving his community.

“He was more than just a fire chief,” Greif said. “He was a leader, a mentor, and a deeply respected member of our department.”

But perhaps the most emotional tribute came from Gabe Eckert, President of the Coeur d’Alene Firefighters’ Union, who shared one of Morrison’s final moments.

“We sat down at the station smoking cigars,” Eckert recalled, voice cracking. “We talked about being better fathers, better leaders, better firefighters. These guys were hard workers. They loved their families.”

Morrison’s dedication wasn’t just about duty—it was personal. Colleagues say he treated every shift like it could be his last, and that he always made time for mentorship, compassion, and community.

The second fallen firefighter was identified as Frank Harwood, 42, of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. A veteran of both the fire service and the Army National Guard, Harwood was a husband and father of two. Both men were ambushed while responding to a fire allegedly started by Roley using flint.

Fire Engineer David Tysdal, who was also shot in the attack, remains in the hospital in critical condition but has reportedly undergone two successful surgeries.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) confirmed the tragic news on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“I am beyond saddened to announce this. Keep their families in your hearts.”

Edward A. Kelly, General President of the IAFF, issued a powerful statement calling the attack “horrific” and vowing to fight for safer conditions for first responders:

“In no civilized nation should first responders be targets for violence… Our brothers and sisters in Idaho will continue to serve their communities, even during these difficult times.”

The senseless act has stunned not only Idaho but the entire nation, prompting an outpouring of grief, support, and questions. Why would a young man with dreams of becoming a firefighter turn his weapon on those wearing the uniform he once admired?

For now, those questions remain. But one thing is clear: John Morrison died doing what he loved, with the people he loved—serving the community he called home.

The shocking shooting on Canfield Mountain that claimed the lives of two veteran firefighters has left an entire nation grieving—and searching for answers. Among the victims was Frank Harwood, a 42-year-old Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief, whose death has shaken the firefighting community to its core.

Harwood had served with honor for 17 years. A former Army National Guard combat engineer, he was not just a leader in uniform but also a devoted husband and father of two. His colleagues described him as a man of integrity, professionalism, and heart. At a press conference on Monday, Kootenai Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way fought back emotion as he remembered his fallen friend:

“He was a leader who did an amazing job… He was well respected.”

But the man accused of taking Harwood’s life, Wess Roley, was not a stranger to the world of firefighting either—at least, not in ambition.

According to his grandfather, Roley once dreamed of becoming a firefighter himself, particularly in forest services. Before Sunday’s ambush, he had been working in Idaho’s tree service industry, allegedly getting closer to that very goal. So how did a hopeful 20-year-old end up pulling the trigger on the very people he once aspired to join?

The answer may lie in a troubled family history, recently unearthed through court documents and social media evidence.

In 2015, Wess’s mother, Heather Lynn Kuuipo Cuchiara, sought a protective order against his father, Jason Roley, accusing him of violent threats, including one where he allegedly vowed to sit outside her house “with a sniper rifle” or “burn it down.” The judge granted the order and awarded primary custody of Wess to his mother.

For most of his childhood, Wess lived in Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended high school. Just last year, he moved to Idaho to reconnect with his father, who, according to unverified reports, owns property on Canfield Mountain—the very site of the deadly shooting.

Jason Roley, believed to be a former Army cavalry scout and a member of the “Hooligans” biker club, has not publicly responded to the allegations or the tragedy.

Heather, meanwhile, has posted recent images to Facebook showing her in Washington, D.C., wearing a MAGA hat, and vacationing in Hawaii with her son. In May, she wished Wess a happy 20th birthday with the words, “So proud of the man you’ve become.”

But somewhere between the Facebook photos and the firefighting dream, something broke.

Wess was described by a former roommate in Sandpoint, Idaho, as acting erratically in the months leading up to the shooting—throwing gang signs at apartment cameras, letting his car run for hours, and shaving his head without explanation. Whatever spiraled inside him ultimately culminated in tragedy on Sunday, when he allegedly started a fire and opened fire on firefighters who asked him to move his vehicle.

Harwood and Coeur d’Alene Battalion Chief John Morrison were both killed. Fire Engineer David Tysdal was critically injured but is now recovering after two surgeries. Roley later died by suicide.

“This is not Idaho,” Governor Brad Little said while ordering flags to be flown at half-staff. “We have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before.”

Frank Harwood’s legacy will live on—as a hero, a family man, and a protector. But for the families of all involved, the question will linger: What could have prevented Wess Roley from turning into the very threat he once wanted to fight?

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