The tragic incident ends in a police standoff at Letchworth State Park.
A tragic series of events unfolded in Irondequoit, New York, on Thursday when a 24-year-old man, Andrew Vahey, fatally shot his 80-year-old grandfather, Joseph Deponceau, before taking his own life hours later in Letchworth State Park. The authorities, responding to a 911 call, found Deponceau’s body at his home in Irondequoit, leading to a search for Vahey.
As police closed in on him near the Genesee River, Vahey was located on a hiking trail in Letchworth State Park. Law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions were involved in the search, and the park was temporarily closed for several hours while they looked for Vahey. Tragically, he was found dead by suicide before he could be apprehended.
The situation left the community shaken, as details of the motive remain unclear. Police Chief Scott Peters stated that the shooting occurred earlier in the day, and Vahey’s subsequent flight and death by suicide added to the tragic nature of the incident. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings continues, as the community mourns the loss of both victims.