Tue Dec 25, 2012, 01:00 PM

Gunman William Spengler Used Bushmaster, Left Chilling Note

Source: ABC

By RUSSELL GOLDMAN

An convicted killer, who shot dead two firefighters with a Bushmaster assault rifle after leading them into an ambush when they responded to a house fire he set in Western New York, left behind a typewritten note saying he wanted to "do what I like doing best, killing people," police said.

William Spengler, 62, set his home and a car on fire early Monday morning with the intention of setting a trap to kill firefighters and to see "how much of the neighborhood I can burn down," according to the note he wrote and which police found at the scene. The note did not give a reason for his actions.

Spengler, who served 18 years in prison for beating his 92-year-old grandmother to death with a hammer in 1981, hid Monday morning in a small ditch beside a tree overlooking the sleepy lakeside street in Webster, N.Y., where he lived with his sister, police said today in a news conference.

That woman, Cheryl Spengler, 67, remains missing and may also have been killed, police said.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/webster-gunman-bushmaster-left-chilling-note/story?id=18062121

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Webster, N.Y. on Dec. 24, 2012, only to find a gunman. Inset: William Spangler who cops have identified as the alleged suspect. (ABC News/WHAM)

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135 replies	Author	Time	Post
Gunman William Spengler Used Bushmaster, Left Chilling Note (Original post)	Omaha Steve	Dec 2012	OP
If he bought the assualt rifle at a gun show, charged the seller. If	underthematrix	Dec 2012	#1
The problem is...	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#6
Yes, this kind of accountability is totally missing now.	mbperrin	Dec 2012	#50
Gee, how about going after the company that made the hammer that he used on his grandmother?	humblebum	Dec 2012	#107
The laws inside gun shows are the same as the laws outside gun shows.	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#111
To the "we have enough gun laws" folks...	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#2
He got it somewhere outside of the prison that he should never have been released from	slackmaster	Dec 2012	#4
Yep, he should have been left to rot. nt	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#7
Yup. That wasn't manslaughter, it was premeditated.	freshwest	Dec 2012	#19
Do you think the prosecution	exboyfil	Dec 2012	#68
It was a plea deal. He was originally charged with murder, but plead to manslaughter to	LisaL	Dec 2012	#69
That is my point	exboyfil	Dec 2012	#71
Yes, we're looking back after this crime and perhaps making the case worse than it appeared then.	freshwest	Dec 2012	#72
The problem is some dumbass let a nut out of jail.	oldbanjo	Dec 2012	#93
Very true...	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#98
True, because using, say a crowbar is much more sane.	Katashi_itto	Dec 2012	#99
What would give you the idea...	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#100
agree - anyone who kills his grandmother with a hammer should not be let out of jail	wordpix	Dec 2012	#134
He should not have been allowed to purchase a gun	marshall	Dec 2012	#108
I agree...	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#126
Our friends who love guns want us to believe Bushmaster is not an assault weapon. LaPierre Disease.	Hoyt	Dec 2012	#3
there's one thing LaPierre said on Meet The Press that I agree with	Trunk Monkey	Dec 2012	#12
I think anyone who walks into gun store for assault weapon should be tested for LaPierre Disease.	Hoyt	Dec 2012	#13
You do realize the guy would have done more damage (and been just as illegal) W/a model 94 right? NT	Trunk Monkey	Dec 2012	#28
What I realize is that today's gun nuts are attracted to manufacturers' marketing campaigns.	Hoyt	Dec 2012	#30
I think you are right, the marketing is a big part of the problem...	reACTIONary	Dec 2012	#95
"militaristic styling cues"? Specifics, please?	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#110
The assult weapon ban of yore contained the specifics...	reACTIONary	Dec 2012	#129
Then you'll want to restrict the Winchester .30-30 as well, as it was designed for the military.....	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#131
Sure. Whatever works... (nt)	reACTIONary	Dec 2012	#132
Well, that was... unresponsive. n/t	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#133
FWIW I do not own a single weapon that would be affected by an AWB NT	Trunk Monkey	Dec 2012	#106
I'm not so sure.	sulphurdunn	Dec 2012	#46
Oswald got off 3 shots in 5 seconds with a bolt-action rifle w/scope.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#51
He could have	sulphurdunn	Dec 2012	#58
Ummmm.... unless you actually use the sights on any AR15....	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#109
Not so.	sulphurdunn	Dec 2012	#112
None of that negates anything I said.	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#114
I suppose	sulphurdunn	Dec 2012	#118
Sorry, but your training is quite out-of-date.	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#119
Spray-n-pay?	sulphurdunn	Dec 2012	#121
Sorry, I meant "spray-n-pRay". Darn typos... n/t	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#123
I figured that out finally.	sulphurdunn	Dec 2012	#127
He was a convicted felon - somehow he got a gun - that's the issue.	geckosfeet	Dec 2012	#54
An "accomplice" would have to have known...	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#65
And eventually those weapons will be removed from private hands also. It will take time.	RC	Dec 2012	#86
They aren't experienced gun owners. They are copy-cats	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#91
True. If there was a required bg check this guy would have shown up.	geckosfeet	Dec 2012	#103
NY gun laws here:	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#115
Then if someone sold it to him at gun show they broke the law.	geckosfeet	Dec 2012	#120
Only if they knew, or should have known, that he was a felon or had criminal intent.	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#122
There is a lot of fail in this story.	Chorophyll	Dec 2012	#5
Gun show probably. nt	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#8
New York requires back ground checks on all sales at guns shows so probably not. NT	Trunk Monkey	Dec 2012	#26
So maybe he took a few hours' drive to Ohio	starroute	Dec 2012	#32
Which would STILL be illegal. You get that right? NT	Trunk Monkey	Dec 2012	#104
Lots of states around New York don't. nt	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#42
OK, does that somehow make it legal for a convicted felon to purchase a firearm?	Trunk Monkey	Dec 2012	#105
A prison record for murdering his grandmother and we sold him a gun?	aquart	Dec 2012	#9
One More Victory For The NRA And Gun Apologists	cantbeserious	Dec 2012	#10
I'm surprised he didn't decide to use a chainsaw.	dkf	Dec 2012	#11
advertising that money cannot buy for the manufacturer nt	msongs	Dec 2012	#14
He did 18 years for murdering his grandmother, and he was then able to get hold of a gun?	LeftishBrit	Dec 2012	#15
But you see, he used a hammer on his mother rather than a gun, because shooting her would have...	slackmaster	Dec 2012	#16
What's the name of your advocacy group?	IveWornAHundredPants	Dec 2012	#23
American Symmetry Association	slackmaster	Dec 2012	#25
I thought you were...	awoke_in_2003	Dec 2012	#48
I read his post as tongue in cheak...	socialindependocrat	Dec 2012	#52
Gun Militancy Movement's Response To Victims And Their Families: Tough Shit. (nt)	Paladin	Dec 2012	#17
Huff. Post:William Spengler's Note Before Killing Webster Firefighters: 'Do What I Like Doing Best,	Judi Lynn	Dec 2012	#18
Free Republic just lost another member.	alfredo	Dec 2012	#20
So true.	Baitball Blogger	Dec 2012	#21
I guess FR is still in operation.	alfredo	Dec 2012	#61
sales of this brand, of course, will go up--that's now TWO "field trials"	MisterP	Dec 2012	#22
Question I'd be asking, is how much the manufaturers...	TheMadMonk	Dec 2012	#62
Don't you just know that somewhere there's some fuckwad with an MBA	coalition_unwilling	Dec 2012	#102
He beat somone to death with a hammer and he was out of prison?	Third Doctor	Dec 2012	#24
he did not have a right to own a gun	bossy22	Dec 2012	#45
And how, exactly, does that	billh58	Dec 2012	#53
Anyone can buy a gun with no paperwork in any City.	oldbanjo	Dec 2012	#96
A felon I know was arrested, he had three guns,	oldbanjo	Dec 2012	#94
The NRA should be charged like a driver who's passengers go to bathroom in gas station	graham4anything	Dec 2012	#27
He was a convicted felon	KareBear	Dec 2012	#29
He could have bought it off anyone and not broken any law, how would the seller	doc03	Dec 2012	#31
And what exactly is the background check for?	LisaL	Dec 2012	#34
There is no background check for private sales in most states. n/t	doc03	Dec 2012	#39
Well, there should be.	LisaL	Dec 2012	#41
That is the problem.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#40
I don't know how knowledgeable another person on DU was a couple days ago	doc03	Dec 2012	#44
I believe federal law prevents felons from buying guns.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#49
He could could have bought a gun off of me or you, there is no	doc03	Dec 2012	#60
Exactly. There's no record-keeping or background checks.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#73
To be pedantic, laws don't "prevent" anything.	PavePusher	Dec 2012	#113
That is true.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#116
And therein lies the	billh58	Dec 2012	#55
Not to mention he looks like evil Santa....	eilen	Dec 2012	#67
A law banning private sales may have helped,	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#35
He might be able to have killed grandma with a hammer. Not so easy to do that with	LisaL	Dec 2012	#37
He could have killed them with several other weapons.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#43
And as YOU well know. NOT AS FUCKING EASILY! /nt	TheMadMonk	Dec 2012	#64
Several propane tanks rigged to explode when firefighters arrived?	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#87
Still not as easy as <crack>, <crack>, <crack>	TheMadMonk	Dec 2012	#92
So why do hunters use guns?	primavera	Dec 2012	#135
N.R.A. , Republicans morn the loss of recent killers.	pwb	Dec 2012	#33
Am I mistaken here?	lexw	Dec 2012	#36
I don't believe we were hearing anything of the sort.	LisaL	Dec 2012	#38
Thx. I found the original article I saw on 12/24, and indeed, I misread it. :/	lexw	Dec 2012	#130
AFAIK, it was descibed as an ambush from the beginning. nt	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#47
Yes, you're mistaken. n/t	Tarheel_Dem	Dec 2012	#59
Holy Moly, Mother of God...	ReRe	Dec 2012	#56
Prison does nothing to address people with psychological/emotional illnesses/issues.	Live and Learn	Dec 2012	#57
Oh give me a break.	LisaL	Dec 2012	#63
Are you saying you disagree?	Live and Learn	Dec 2012	#70
So instead of prisons, we should be now sending criminals to hospitals for treatment?	LisaL	Dec 2012	#76
Or get him in a treatment facility before he murdered his grandmother with a hammer.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#74
So you would have him treated before he did anything? For what, exactly?	LisaL	Dec 2012	#77
Did he display any signs before the murder?	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#80
It used to be much easier. It is very difficult now.	Live and Learn	Dec 2012	#83
For what? Certainly you don't think that someone who	Live and Learn	Dec 2012	#84
That would be the optimum. We are a long ways from that	Live and Learn	Dec 2012	#81
A perfect example of a Gun Nut!	Odin2005	Dec 2012	#66
Or a hammer-nut...or arsonist...or suicide attacker.	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#89
He beat his grandmother to death with a hammer.	MrSlayer	Dec 2012	#75
He beat his own grandmother to death with a hammer	Aerows	Dec 2012	#78
Because he plead to manslaughter.	LisaL	Dec 2012	#79
What idiot offered a manslaughter plea?	HooptieWagon	Dec 2012	#85
I suspect a DA, who had a case where he had a good chance of losing.	happyslug	Dec 2012	#125
What the fuck was he doing out of prison in the first place?	Jamastiene	Dec 2012	#82
that's what i want to know, he was already in his mid 30s when he beat her to death	JI7	Dec 2012	#88
He should have never went to jail he should have been hung the next day.	oldbanjo	Dec 2012	#97
He got out on good behavior, because they needed the room for another pot smoker.	RC	Dec 2012	#90
Which is ridiculous.	Jamastiene	Dec 2012	#101
This article is some tribute to a dingbat complete with picture and manifesto.	Paul E Ester	Dec 2012	#117
Posters sure do get caught up on the imagery of "beat to death".	ieoeja	Dec 2012	#124
It was fucking murder	SpartanDem	Dec 2012	#128

Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Tue Dec 25, 2012, 01:03 PM

underthematrix (577 posts)

1. If he bought the assualt rifle at a gun show, charged the seller. If

he borrowed it from a friend, charge the friend. If he got it some other way, find out and let's fill that loophole too.

Gunman William Spengler Used Bushmaster, Left Chilling Note

1. If he bought the assualt rifle at a gun show, charged the seller. If

6. The problem is...

50. Yes, this kind of accountability is totally missing now.

107. Gee, how about going after the company that made the hammer that he used on his grandmother?

111. The laws inside gun shows are the same as the laws outside gun shows.

2. To the "we have enough gun laws" folks...

4. He got it somewhere outside of the prison that he should never have been released from

7. Yep, he should have been left to rot. nt

19. Yup. That wasn't manslaughter, it was premeditated.

68. Do you think the prosecution

69. It was a plea deal. He was originally charged with murder, but plead to manslaughter to

71. That is my point

72. Yes, we're looking back after this crime and perhaps making the case worse than it appeared then.

93. The problem is some dumbass let a nut out of jail.

98. Very true...

99. True, because using, say a crowbar is much more sane.

100. What would give you the idea...

134. agree - anyone who kills his grandmother with a hammer should not be let out of jail

108. He should not have been allowed to purchase a gun

126. I agree...

3. Our friends who love guns want us to believe Bushmaster is not an assault weapon. LaPierre Disease.

12. there's one thing LaPierre said on Meet The Press that I agree with

13. I think anyone who walks into gun store for assault weapon should be tested for LaPierre Disease.

28. You do realize the guy would have done more damage (and been just as illegal) W/a model 94 right? NT

30. What I realize is that today's gun nuts are attracted to manufacturers' marketing campaigns.

95. I think you are right, the marketing is a big part of the problem...

110. "militaristic styling cues"? Specifics, please?

129. The assult weapon ban of yore contained the specifics...

131. Then you'll want to restrict the Winchester .30-30 as well, as it was designed for the military.....

132. Sure. Whatever works... (nt)

133. Well, that was... unresponsive. n/t

106. FWIW I do not own a single weapon that would be affected by an AWB NT

46. I'm not so sure.

51. Oswald got off 3 shots in 5 seconds with a bolt-action rifle w/scope.

58. He could have

109. Ummmm.... unless you actually use the sights on any AR15....

112. Not so.

114. None of that negates anything I said.

118. I suppose

119. Sorry, but your training is quite out-of-date.

121. Spray-n-pay?

123. Sorry, I meant "spray-n-pRay". Darn typos... n/t

127. I figured that out finally.

54. He was a convicted felon - somehow he got a gun - that's the issue.

65. An "accomplice" would have to have known...

86. And eventually those weapons will be removed from private hands also. It will take time.

91. They aren't experienced gun owners. They are copy-cats

103. True. If there was a required bg check this guy would have shown up.

115. NY gun laws here:

120. Then if someone sold it to him at gun show they broke the law.

122. Only if they knew, or should have known, that he was a felon or had criminal intent.

5. There is a lot of fail in this story.

8. Gun show probably. nt

26. New York requires back ground checks on all sales at guns shows so probably not. NT

32. So maybe he took a few hours' drive to Ohio

104. Which would STILL be illegal. You get that right? NT

42. Lots of states around New York don't. nt

105. OK, does that somehow make it legal for a convicted felon to purchase a firearm?

9. A prison record for murdering his grandmother and we sold him a gun?

10. One More Victory For The NRA And Gun Apologists

11. I'm surprised he didn't decide to use a chainsaw.

14. advertising that money cannot buy for the manufacturer nt

15. He did 18 years for murdering his grandmother, and he was then able to get hold of a gun?

16. But you see, he used a hammer on his mother rather than a gun, because shooting her would have...

23. What's the name of your advocacy group?

25. American Symmetry Association

48. I thought you were...

52. I read his post as tongue in cheak...

17. Gun Militancy Movement's Response To Victims And Their Families: Tough Shit. (nt)

18. Huff. Post:William Spengler's Note Before Killing Webster Firefighters: 'Do What I Like Doing Best,

20. Free Republic just lost another member.

21. So true.

61. I guess FR is still in operation.

22. sales of this brand, of course, will go up--that's now TWO "field trials"

62. Question I'd be asking, is how much the manufaturers...

102. Don't you just know that somewhere there's some fuckwad with an MBA

24. He beat somone to death with a hammer and he was out of prison?

45. he did not have a right to own a gun

53. And how, exactly, does that