The man believed responsible for Sunday’s deadly ambush that left two Idaho firefighters dead and another critically injured was found dead from a gunshot wound near the scene, authorities confirmed late Sunday.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said the unnamed suspect appeared to have intentionally set a grass fire on Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho, drawing first responders to the area before opening fire. Law enforcement believes the attack was a calculated ambush.
“This was a total ambush,” Norris said. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
Two firefighters—one from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and another from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue—were killed. A third firefighter remains in critical condition. Names have not yet been released pending family notification.
Law enforcement located the suspect’s body using cell phone data and aerial support from federal partners. The suspect was found deceased near the fire, with a weapon beside him. Norris stated it remains unclear whether the suspect was killed by law enforcement during a reported exchange of gunfire or died by suicide.
“We had a cell phone activation that was in the same spot since about 3:16 p.m.,” Norris said. “We saw that there was a male, appeared to be deceased, with a weapon nearby.”
Federal agencies, including the FBI and aerial surveillance teams, assisted in tracking the suspect’s phone and containing the fire. Authorities expect to find additional weapons near the scene once the fire is fully extinguished.
At the height of the incident, over 300 law enforcement officers were deployed to secure the area. Officials have stated there is no further threat to the community and have ruled out the possibility of additional suspects.
Governor Brad Little (R-ID) condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.” He and First Lady Teresa Little asked Idahoans to keep the victims and their families in their prayers.
Sheriff Norris also thanked the White House and Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador for their support, noting the high level of coordination involved in the emergency response.
The motive remains unknown.