The person who ambushed firefighters when they responded to a 911 call about a fire was found dead, reputedly by self-inflicted injuries, hours after the attack in upstate Long Island on Monday.
It appears the fire and successive 911 call were a trap. William Spengler, age 62, was a convicted law-breaker free from prison on supervised parole. It is not known at this time how he got the weapons he used to execute his plan. Spengler could not legally possess guns, but had 1 or 2 differing types of weapons within his possession. Spengler was convicted in 1981 of first-degree manslaughter in the passing of his grandmother.
The events happened in the City of Webster found in the Rochester-area. Two firefighters were fatally wounded and 2 were hurt in the attack. A charred body, believed to be Spengler's sister, was discovered burned in the house she shared with Spengler. Spengler was later found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.
It appears the attack was planned. Investigators found a three-page, type-written note from Spengler saying he hoped to burn down his neighborhood and kill as many folks as possible. A line from the note reads: 'I still need to prepare to discover how a lot of the neighborhood I'll burn down and do what I like doing best - killing folks. ' The note indicated Spengler's intentions, though not his motive. While there's been a sufficiency of speculating why Spengler wanted to eradicate his neighborhood and kill firefighters, the true motive remains a puzzle. One concept is that he was upset about a gift his mummy, who died this last year, made to the fire dept. Another concept points to a connection between his arrest in the murdering of his gramps and the fire department.
Firefighters answered just before 6 a.m. On Monday to a 911 call reporting a fire it's thought Spengler set. ' The gunfire started immediately upon their arrival. It was clearly an ambush Spengler was firing from 'a natural depression ' against a bank and a tree. ' An off-duty police officer happened on the scene. He returned gunfire and sheltered the firefighters with his car. It is probable that more folks would have been rubbed out if that officer had not arrived.
Spengler was equipped with a Bushmaster semiautomatic rifle, the same kind of weapon used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He also had a .38-caliber revolver and a 12-guage shotgun.
Seven homes were demolished and 1 or 2 others spoilt by the fire, which investigators believe spread from a car parked next to the home where they suspect Spengler lived with his sister.
A one-time neighbor expounded that Spengler was a nice chap who used to come over to the neighbor's sister's house for vacation parties and picnics and waved to the family from his front porch where he spent a load of time in the summer. Spengler was particularly attentive to his mummy, visiting her day in the care home where she lived until her passing. Otherwise, the neighbour announced Spengler hated his sister, but never said why; though the neighbor indicated that the sister wasn't friendly.
It appears the fire and successive 911 call were a trap. William Spengler, age 62, was a convicted law-breaker free from prison on supervised parole. It is not known at this time how he got the weapons he used to execute his plan. Spengler could not legally possess guns, but had 1 or 2 differing types of weapons within his possession. Spengler was convicted in 1981 of first-degree manslaughter in the passing of his grandmother.
The events happened in the City of Webster found in the Rochester-area. Two firefighters were fatally wounded and 2 were hurt in the attack. A charred body, believed to be Spengler's sister, was discovered burned in the house she shared with Spengler. Spengler was later found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.
It appears the attack was planned. Investigators found a three-page, type-written note from Spengler saying he hoped to burn down his neighborhood and kill as many folks as possible. A line from the note reads: 'I still need to prepare to discover how a lot of the neighborhood I'll burn down and do what I like doing best - killing folks. ' The note indicated Spengler's intentions, though not his motive. While there's been a sufficiency of speculating why Spengler wanted to eradicate his neighborhood and kill firefighters, the true motive remains a puzzle. One concept is that he was upset about a gift his mummy, who died this last year, made to the fire dept. Another concept points to a connection between his arrest in the murdering of his gramps and the fire department.
Firefighters answered just before 6 a.m. On Monday to a 911 call reporting a fire it's thought Spengler set. ' The gunfire started immediately upon their arrival. It was clearly an ambush Spengler was firing from 'a natural depression ' against a bank and a tree. ' An off-duty police officer happened on the scene. He returned gunfire and sheltered the firefighters with his car. It is probable that more folks would have been rubbed out if that officer had not arrived.
Spengler was equipped with a Bushmaster semiautomatic rifle, the same kind of weapon used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He also had a .38-caliber revolver and a 12-guage shotgun.
Seven homes were demolished and 1 or 2 others spoilt by the fire, which investigators believe spread from a car parked next to the home where they suspect Spengler lived with his sister.
A one-time neighbor expounded that Spengler was a nice chap who used to come over to the neighbor's sister's house for vacation parties and picnics and waved to the family from his front porch where he spent a load of time in the summer. Spengler was particularly attentive to his mummy, visiting her day in the care home where she lived until her passing. Otherwise, the neighbour announced Spengler hated his sister, but never said why; though the neighbor indicated that the sister wasn't friendly.
About the Author:
Blaise Trettis is the 18th Judicial Circuit Public Defender and has a website that offers info about criminal defense in his area.
