In the typewritten note which officers described as “rambling” Spengler left no doubt about his intention to burn the neighborhood and kill as many people as possible, but left ambiguous why he wanted to do so. Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said the motive behind this heinous act will perhaps never be known. We’ll never know what the gunman was thinking, he said.
A former neighbor, Roger Dr. Vercruysse said that both of them had such aversion and hatred for each other that they lived on opposite ends of the house. After his release from prison he led a quiet life and did not once tangle with the law. But after the death of his mother, whom he dearly loved, his bitter relationship with his sister must have escalated.
A relative said that it was probable that the two had a difference of opinion as to who would inherit the house after their mother’s demise two months ago. Cheryl Spengler had told the relative of her intent to hire a good attorney as she feared inheritance issues would crop up.
Official’s think that he had set fire to a vehicle and it spread to other houses in the quiet community located on the shores of Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. On the other hand he could have shot his sister and then set his house on fire. The dastardly act shattered the peace of the tranquil locality and left the neighborhood devastated.
Investigators are finding it hard to understand where he got hold of the weapons that he used in the shootings inasmuch as an ex-convict he is legally not allowed to possess any weapons. Police think that he must have used a military style Bushmaster .223, similar to the type Adam Lanza used in the Sandy Hook killings. Police found two other guns on the site, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38 caliber revolver. Pickering said that the felon had enough arms to go to war.
Given that this is the third time in a fortnight, that too during Christmas time, that assault rifles have been used by crazed gunmen to kill innocent defenseless people on a large scale, it will most certainly increase public outrage and protest for stricter gun control measures. The National Rifle Association will have a very hard time putting their opinions across and will surely face strong public condemnation and censure if they continue to try and block laws that would restrain ownership of guns.
However, given the spate of such happenings and President’s Obama’s pledge and commitment and the growing outrage amongst the people, it seems practically certain, that whether the NRA likes it or not a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is just round the corner.
Pickering said that he has been flooded with offers from people across the nation, police agencies, citizens and even from outside of America wanting to give donations. He said that he was amazed at the outpouring which “has been incredible.”