Gunman Kills Two Volunteer Firefighters, Wounds Two More
A house fire to which they responded apparently was set so William Spengler, 62, could shoot at the arriving first responders, authorities said.
An apparent ambush set in Webster, N.Y., by a gunman identified as William Spengler, 62, early Dec. 24 resulted in the deaths of two volunteer firefighters and injuries to two others after they responded to a 5:30 a.m. house fire. Spengler, who was later found dead at the scene, apparently shot all four, killing two of them at the scene, according to a report by the New York Daily News' Erik Ortiz.
The fire apparently was set so Spengler could fire on the first responders, authorities said.
Ortiz reported an off-duty police officer was injured by shrapnel after bullets hit his truck. His story identified the dead firefighters as Tomasz Kaczowka, 19, and Michael Chiapperini, 43, a lieutenant with the Webster Police Department.
The fire burned several homes and a car.