Idaho authorities mentioned they killed the sniper behind the lethal ambush Sunday that killed two firefighters and inflicted an “unknown quantity of casualties” close to a still-raging fireplace by Coeur d’Alene within the state’s northern neck.
Kootenai County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned SWAT group members discovered a useless man with a firearm shut by round 8:45 p.m. MDT on Canfield Mountain, hours after gunshots rained down on fireplace crews and trapped hikers amid the blaze first reported early Sunday afternoon.
Sheriff Robert Norris confirmed the 2 slain victims had been fireplace personnel. Authorities mentioned later a 3rd individual was rushed to a hospital for therapy.
The sheriff mentioned there was a possible for different capturing victims which have but to be situated by regulation enforcement when he first spoke to the media round 4:30 p.m.
The shelter in place order has been lifted, however fireplace crews are working to comprise the blaze that was first reported round 1:20 p.m.
Authorities mentioned police labored to suppress the “speedy” gunfire earlier than they might get better the 2 slain crew members. Folks got here off the mountain whereas officers had been pinned down by the shooter.
FBI and state authorities additionally helped confront the shooter they mentioned used a “modern-day sporting rifle.”
The sheriff mentioned the suspect blended into the wooded environment and took goal from a number of vantage factors.
“It’s going to be a troublesome subsequent couple hours … Right here’s hoping that anyone has a transparent shot and is ready to neutralize as a result of they aren’t, at this cut-off date, displaying any proof of eager to give up,” the sheriff had earlier mentioned
Idaho Gov. Brad Little mentioned “a number of heroic firefighters” had been attacked through the emergency response.
“This can be a heinous direct assault on our courageous firefighters,” the governor mentioned on X. “I ask all Idahoans to hope for them and their households as we wait to study extra.”
The fireplace was nonetheless raging Sunday night as gunshots stored crews at bay. Sheriff Norris mentioned authorities can’t get management of the blaze till the capturing stops.
The Idaho Home Republican Management mentioned in a press release that it’s “horrified by the homicide of two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, and shocked by such a vicious assault on our first responders. We’re praying for them, the injured, their households and their colleagues.”
Coeur d’Alene is a metropolis of 55,000 residents close to the border with Washington. Canfield Mountain is a well-liked mountain climbing and biking space on the outskirts of the northern Idaho metropolis, lined with bushes and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails.
• This text was based mostly partially on wire service reviews.
