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  • 4 weeks ago
Transcript
00:00The gunman who ambushed firefighters in a deadly Idaho attack has been identified as Wes Rowley.
00:06Authorities say Rowley opened fire on emergency crews who were responding to a brush fire
00:10on Canfield Mountain, just north of Coeur d'Alene, on Sunday afternoon.
00:15Two firefighters were killed in the attack, and a third was critically wounded.
00:19The injured crew member underwent surgery and is now in a stable condition,
00:23according to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.
00:26Rowley's body was discovered near his weapon at the scene.
00:29Officials have not yet determined whether he took his own life or was shot by law enforcement.
00:34The identities of the fallen firefighters have not been released.
00:38A harrowing 911 call from the scene captured the moment one of the firefighters realised that they had been lured into a trap.
00:44We need law enforcement up here immediately, the caller urged.
00:48Two Coeur d'Alene down. I'm pinned down.
00:50It's clear to me that this fire was set intentionally to draw us in.
00:54Authorities believe Rowley set the fire specifically to trap and ambush responders.
00:58This was a total ambush.
01:00These firefighters did not have a chance, Sheriff Norris said during a press conference.
01:05Law enforcement was able to track Rowley using cell phone data,
01:08but firefighters had to temporarily retreat from the area due to the intensity of the blaze.
01:14Governor Brad Little described the attack as a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,
01:19adding that he and his wife were heartbroken over the tragedy.
01:22The investigation is ongoing, but authorities say there is no doubt that the attack was premeditated.
01:27The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community,
01:30and officials are vowing to support the victims' families
01:32and the Surprise and the Coeur d'Alene fire department in the days ahead.
01:40.
01:46.
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