() The president of the International Association of Fire Fighters has called the shooting of three Idaho firefighters “beyond awful.”
“It’s the last thing that you’re anticipating,” IAFF President Ed Kelly said during an appearance on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on Monday. “When you’re responding to a fire, you’re trying to do a size-up, analyze the hazards, who’s at risk, so your mind isn’t thinking about trying to survive being shot at.”
Kelly added that this shooting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was not the first time firefighters were ambushed and shot at during a call. According to a local news outlet, firefighters in Boston were shot at when responding to a fire in 2023.
The victims of the shooting have been identified as battalion chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison, who both died. A third victim, engineer Dave Tysdal, was injured and is in critical condition.
Wess Roley, 20, has been identified as the suspect in the shooting. Authorities later found his body after the shootings, saying he likely shot himself. No manifesto was found at the crime scene or in Roley’s possession, and it’s believed he acted alone.
“Our thoughts and prayers are not only with the families of our fallen, but also with our brother that’s struggling right now and has a tough fight ahead of him,” Kelly said.
