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NY gunman had served time for grandmother's death

Story Created: Dec 24, 2012 at 4:03 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 24, 2012 at 4:03 PM EDT

WEBSTER, N.Y. (AP) - Police in New York state say a man who ambushed firefighters had served 17 years for manslaughter in the death of his grandmother.

Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering says 62-year-old William Spengler was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

Police say he set fire to a car and house to lure firefighters to his house on the shore of Lake Ontario early Monday.

When firefighters arrived, he opened fire, probably with a rifle. Two firefighters died at the scene and two others were hospitalized. A fifth first responder was injured.

Police don't know a motive yet.

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