Webster (WSYR-TV/WROC) - Police in a Rochester suburb have identified the gunman who they believe shot four firefighters and killed two at the scene of a fire on Monday.
WROC in Rochester reports that Police say 62-year-old William Spengler Jr. had a lengthy criminal record before the Monday incident. He was convicted of killing his grandmother in 1981. Upon his release in 1998, was placed on supervised parole until 2006.
They say Spengler died of a self inflicted gunshot wound.
According to police, Spengler's sister remains unaccounted for.
According to police, the incident appears to have been a trap and that Spengler was trying to lure first responders to the scene by setting fire to a home.
Officials confirmed that police exchanged gunfire with a person when they responded to the scene.
One of the volunteer firefighters - Mike Chiapperini - who was killed was also a member of the Webster Police Department.
The other firefighter was Tomasz Kaczowka, a 911 dispatcher.
Joseph Hoffesetter and Theodore Scardino were both taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. A doctor at the hospital said both are awake and alert with good blood pressure. They are currently in intensive care, but have been able to talk to their families.
Along with the firefighters, an off-duty police officer from the town of Greece - John Ritter - was driving by the location when the incident occurred. He was injured by shrapnel.
Fire crews responded to the fire on Lake Road in Webster around 5:30 a.m. when a gunman opened fire.
A SWAT team responded to the scene near the Lake Ontario shore along with an armored vehicle.
Officials described the neighborhood in which the incident occurred as quiet.
33 people were evacuated from the area and four homes were destroyed.
