William Spengler Left Note On How He Planned West Webster Fires And Ambush Of Firefighters

Sad news and tragic news ripped through the hearts of New Yorkers especially those in West Webster on the shores of Lake Ontario on Christmas Eve. 62 year-old William Spengler masterminded a massive arson which burned down 7 residences and then took a sniper position and started shooting at first responders as they arrived to the blaze. Sadly he gunned down two firefighters who reported to the scene before taking his own life in a suicide. 43 year-old Michael Chiapperini and 19 year-old Tomasz Kaczowka were murdered in the line of duty. Spengler's sister 67-year old Cheryl Spengler was also found dead, and investigations continue to determine if she was killed before the fires or died as a result of a the blaze.

Spengler left a 2 page note detailing what he intended to do, but did not say why he was set on doing it. An excerpt from the note in a Times Union article quoted the following:

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

Spengler was an ex-convict who served 17 years behind bars before being released in the late 1990's for murdering his grandmother who he bludgeoned to death with a hammer.