William Spengler killed his grandmother with a hammer in 1980.William Spengler killed his grandmother with a hammer in 1980He spent about 18 years in prison and eight more on supervised parole Law enforcement authorities don't know of any problems since his releaseOn Monday, Spengler, 62, set a fire then ambushed and killed two firefighters(CNN) -- William Spengler had killed before.
The first time, presumably, was in 1980. Then about 40 years old, Spengler struck his grandmother with a hammer. A year later, he was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in her death.Flash forward to before dawn Monday, in Webster, New York, a town of about 43,000 people located 10 miles east of Rochester. That's when and where, Police Chief Gerald Pickering said, Spengler presumably set his and his sister's home ablaze, lugged weapons up a hill, then waited.When local firefighters arrived at the scene, Spengler fired and killed again.'Chaos': Gunman ambushes, kills 2 firefightersAuthorities haven't given a motive for the latest violence, which left two firefighters dead and two other firefighters and an off-duty police officer from a nearby town wounded.And they can't ask the shooter, who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head around 11 a.m., about six hours after first calls about the fire came in.But the Webster police chief has his own idea about why this happened."Just looking at the history, obviously this is an individual who had a lot of problems, to kill his grandmother," Pickering said. "And I'm sure there were ... mental health issues involved."After his 1981 manslaughter conviction, Spengler was given an indeterminate sentence, said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.He ended up spending nearly 18 years behind bars until his release in 1998. Through 2006, Spengler was on supervised parole, during which time Doorley said she wasn't aware of any events suggesting he had gotten into further trouble.Nor, Pickering said, had police had any "contact with him criminally" in the recent past.Until Monday.By then, Spengler was living in a home in Webster, likely with his sister, who was still unaccounted for Monday afternoon. Their mother had died sometime in the past year, according to Pickering.He'd accumulated weapons, bringing "several different types" with him before the shootings, the police chief said. It is not known how he obtained these firearms, but ex-felons are not allowed to possess weapons.But because Spengler had them, two families are in mourning. Many of his former neighbors are homeless, because having a gunman on the loose slowed fire crews' efforts to corral a blaze that eventually destroyed seven homes."It's Christmas Eve. This is a day where people are getting together to celebrate a holiday," Lt. Gov. Bob Duffy told reporters in Webster. "This tragedy is just unthinkable and unspeakable."
Iraqis inspect damage after two bomb blasts in the town of Tuz Khurmato in Kirkuk province Monday. NEW: At least 29 people die Monday as violence continues for a second dayBaghdad hit with two explosionsBlasts kill at least seven and wound 11 in a village northeast of MosulThe area is claimed by both the central government and Kurdistan authorities
A gunman opened fire in a Connecticut school on December 14. Learn more about the victims - 20 of them children, officials say.December 17, 2012 -- Updated 1030 GMT (1830 HKT) 
How a massacre in Australia resulted in tougher rules on the ownership of firearms -- and how that changed the country.December 16, 2012 -- Updated 0830 GMT (1630 HKT) 
Two schools, two attacks, two countries on the same day. But in China there were no fatalities: the attacker used a knife, not a gun.December 17, 2012 -- Updated 1312 GMT (2112 HKT) 
The shocking scenes at Sandy Hook Elementary School have added another name to the list of small towns scarred by tragedy.December 17, 2012 -- Updated 1113 GMT (1913 HKT) 
The North Korean leader may have departed from his father's style, but repression and malnutrition remain.
Malala or Merkel? Zuckerberg or Baumgartner? Tell us the famous face who mattered most to you during the last 12 months.December 17, 2012 -- Updated 1605 GMT (0005 HKT) 
When Aesha Mohammadzai's disfigured image appeared on Time magazine, it symbolized the oppression of Afghan women. What happened next?December 14, 2012 -- Updated 2057 GMT (0457 HKT) 
The war has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes; the lucky ones have found shelter across the border in crammed camps.December 14, 2012 -- Updated 0335 GMT (1135 HKT) 
Tensions with the U.S., the push to clean corruption and plans to land on the moon are trends to watch next year, writes Kristie Lu Stout.December 13, 2012 -- Updated 1345 GMT (2145 HKT) 
She's laid down the law in female skiing; now Lindsey Vonn is pondering legal action in her quest to test herself against male skiers.
Kaye Martindale and Geoff Brokate traveled through Pakistan for eight months photographing local women, including Malala Yousafzai.December 14, 2012 -- Updated 1205 GMT (2005 HKT) 
CNN's Ivan Watson speaks with a Syrian violinist in exile in Turkey.December 14, 2012 -- Updated 1041 GMT (1841 HKT) 
Greece's financial crisis is causing some to escape the big cities and opt instead for rural living. CNN's Diana Magnay reports.
Today's five most popular stories