Leaving the entire nation in shock, a gruesome incident resulted in the tragic death of two brave firefighters and the injury of another.
A gunman turned a peaceful Northern Idaho community into a battlefield when he opened fire on firefighters responding to a blaze he had started.
First responders to a wildfire in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, found themselves under attack.
A gunman initiated this horrific scene by intentionally setting a fire on Canfield Mountain.
He targeted the arriving firefighters with quick gunfire, ultimately claiming two lives and wounding another.
“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance,” confirmed Sheriff Bob Norris.
The shooter wielded a high-powered sporting rifle, and his carefully planned chaos forced more than 300 law enforcement officers into action.
Even helicopters, complete with snipers, were deployed in a desperate attempt to secure the area.
However, the smoke from the still-burning wildfire thwarted the effectiveness of their heat-seeking technology.
Despite the fire expanding to 20 acres, the man responsible was eventually located as night fell as authorities managed to track him down using mobile data.
It remains uncertain whether this suspect’s death was at his own hands or those of the officers. A seven-hour shelter-in-place notice was lifted after the crisis.
The FBI and Governor Brad Little condemned the “heinous direct assault,” while Idaho’s House Republican Leadership also expressed shock.
Canfield Mountain is popular among hikers, lying just 260 miles east of Seattle.
Despite initial reports suggesting multiple shooters, the investigation confirmed that a lone gunman orchestrated the attack.
The suspect’s identity remains a mystery, leaving authorities with unanswered questions about his motive.
The public has been sternly advised to stay clear of the area as investigations proceed, and to refrain from using drones that could disrupt ongoing operations.
Idaho continues to grapple with this unprecedented tragedy, while residents rally in support of the first responders who courageously faced this horrifying ordeal.
As investigations unfold, the community awaits details on how a peaceful mountainside was turned into the scene of such calculated violence.
