Fire crews responding to a blaze on Canfield Mountain walked into gunfire. A 90-minute standoff followed, ending after officials traced a phone signal through the thick woods.
Authorities in Idaho say a man intentionally set a brush fire on Canfield Mountain the afternoon of Sunday, June 29, 2025, before opening fire on the firefighters who responded.
While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence. Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery.
Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers.
— Edward A. Kelly (@IAFFPresident) June 30, 2025
The attack, described as a “sniper” ambush by Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, resulted in the deaths of two firefighters. A third was critically injured and was reported to be “fighting for his life” by Sunday evening.
The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was tracked through his cell phone signal after the shooting. Law enforcement officials located him deceased near a weapon, bringing an end to a tense manhunt involving hundreds of personnel.
“At 2:00, the firefighters called and said they had been ambushed,” retired FBI supervisory special agent Steve Moore told CNN. “For the next 90 minutes … according to the sheriff at Kootenai County, they were responding and engaging the shooter with firearms. And that’s about the time this phone stopped moving around in the woods.”
Moore noted that the resolution came swiftly. “Either the responding officers or agents — whoever it was — they neutralized it,” he shared. “Or they caused this person to realize there’s no way out and, at that point, they took their lives.”
He added, “Either way, they had actually resolved this within 90 minutes. I’m very impressed. And the rest of the time was determining a safe way to clear that mountain … to get to the location of this cell phone, which they thought, correctly, was important evidence.”
The events began at 1:21 p.m. when the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fire on the mountain’s east side. Firefighters were dispatched, and by 2 p.m., they issued a distress call reporting the ambush.
Emergency radio captured the urgency and chaos. “Send law enforcement right now. There’s an active shooter zone,” said a man in panic. “They’re shot. BC three is down. BC one is down. Everybody’s shot up here. Law enforcement code three now up here.”
Roughly 300 officers from various local, state, and federal agencies — including the FBI, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and Coeur d’Alene Police — responded to the unfolding crisis. During the next hour and a half, law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect while working to secure the area.
Around 3:16 p.m., the suspect’s phone stopped moving, a key moment that guided authorities to the likely location. By 7:40 p.m., a search team found the man’s body near a firearm. Sheriff Norris confirmed that there were no other suspects. “We believe that was the only shooter up on that mountain at that time,” he said.
Because the fire was advancing toward the scene, officials decided to quickly remove the suspect’s body. “We had to do what we had to do to preserve the body,” Norris explained. He acknowledged the scene was compromised and that investigators would return when it was safe to do so.
At this time, officials have not shared details about the weapon recovered. “We don’t know if there are more weapons up there that he had,” said Norris. “There is a belief that he ran and shot. There’s a likelihood that when we are able to enter the scene again tomorrow without the threat of fire that we’ll find other weapons that were placed.”
Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken.
As this…
— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) June 29, 2025
The fire, now named the Nettleton Gulch Fire, has grown to between 15 and 20 acres. According to the Idaho Department of Lands, the terrain is steep with numerous snags. Fire crews were initially unable to combat the blaze while the suspect was still considered a threat, but resources have since been deployed to battle the flames.
As of Monday, June 30, the investigation into the ambush is ongoing, and authorities are still working to determine the motive behind the attack. Sheriff Norris assured the public that there is no longer any threat to the community.
Thank you to our incredible @FBI agents on the ground assisting local authorities in Idaho.
We are praying for all.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) June 29, 2025
The tragedy in Idaho came just days after another devastating loss in law enforcement — this time on the opposite side of the country. In California, a longtime public servant was killed during what would become his last act of service on a Los Angeles freeway, underscoring the everyday risks first responders face in the line of duty.
Sergeant Shiou Deng of the Los Angeles Police Department was killed on June 23, 2025, while assisting a stranded driver on the southbound 405 Freeway. His death has sparked widespread mourning across the city and law enforcement community, with tributes pouring in for the highly respected veteran officer.
The incident unfolded just before 2 a.m. near Getty Center in West Los Angeles when a Toyota pickup truck lost control and crashed.
Another car swerved to avoid the wreck and struck the center divider. Responding to the scene, Sergeant Deng, who was in his patrol SUV, activated his emergency lights and pulled over to help.
As he exited his vehicle to reach the pickup driver, who was out of his vehicle already, both men were struck by an oncoming car. The truck driver was killed instantly. Deng was transported by ambulance to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
Meanwhile, a rescue helicopter had landed on the freeway but was not used. The collision brought traffic to a complete halt, and the southbound lanes remained closed well into the morning commute before reopening early that afternoon.
City officials quickly confirmed the officer’s identity and paid tribute to his service. In a press conference, Mayor Karen Bass expressed her condolences and emphasized the risks officers face daily.
“Sgt. Deng’s last act was one of service — putting the safety and wellbeing of others above all else,” she said, highlighting his decades of dedication to the city.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell also spoke to news outlets, confirming that Deng had been trying to help the crash victim when he was struck. “He died a hero,” McDonnell said. “He was out there helping others.”
Additionally, the chief said that Deng was “a deeply respected leader” whose passing was “immeasurable” for both the department and the wider community.
In a written statement posted online, McDonnell said Deng was “tragically killed” and reflected on the late officer’s character and legacy, citing his 26 years of honorable service.
He also described Deng as a man of “integrity, bravery, and an unwavering commitment to public service.” Officials promised continued support for his family and stated that memorial details would be released in the coming days.
As news of Deng’s death spread, tributes poured in both offline and online. A police procession was held to escort Deng’s body from the hospital to the coroner’s office, drawing participation from the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Fire Department, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Councilwoman Traci Park shared footage from the event, describing the collective grief and unity displayed by first responders.
“Thank you to Sgt. Deng for your service and to our brave first responders for honoring him in this way. Our city mourns this devastating loss. We will never forget Sgt. Deng’s courage or sacrifice 🖤💙,” she wrote.
On social media, others joined in mourning the fallen officer. Former colleague Alex Mora-espino shared photos of Deng and reflected on the close bond within the police force, describing the lasting impact Deng had on everyone around him. “It’s a second family. This man was the light of that family and brought nothing but joy every day,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the LAPD and local news outlets, including KNX News 97.1 FM, posted videos of the lengthy procession, which featured a solemn line of patrol vehicles moving through the city in Deng’s honor.
