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Gunman Who Ambushed Firefighters Left Note

Aaron Liu |
December 25, 2012 | 4:40 p.m. PST

Assistant News Editor

William Spengler lit his house on fire and then shot at the responding firefighters. (Photo from Monroe County Sheriff's Dept.)
William Spengler lit his house on fire and then shot at the responding firefighters. (Photo from Monroe County Sheriff's Dept.)
A convicted felon who set his house on fire and killed two firefighters and his sister in Webster, N.Y., on Monday before taking his own life left a note outlining his intention to set his neighborhood ablaze and "do what I like doing best, killing people."

READ MORE: Four Firefighters Shot While Responding To Rochester Blaze

Police say William Spengler, 62, shot at firefighters responding to the scene. Two other firefighters were wounded in the shootout. 

Police found a typed note at the scene, but have only released one line to the public.

From The Washington Post:

He [the police spokesperson] declined to reveal the note’s full content or say where it was found. He read only one chilling line: “I still have to get ready to see how much of the neighborhood I can burn down, and do what I like doing best, killing people.” 

Police also found a body inside Spengler's burnt-down home, believed to be 67-year-old Cheryl Spengler, the killer's sister.

Previously, Spengler had served 17 years in prison for killing his grandmother. He was not allowed to own firearms.

READ MORE: Upstate N.Y. Gunman Killed Grandmother In 1980

Read the full story at The Washington Post.

Reach reporter Aaron Liu here.



 

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