Man fatally shoots 80-year-old grandfather and self in New York state, prompting park closure

IRONDEQUOIT, NY — A 24-year-old man shot and killed his 80-year-old grandfather on Thursday and ultimately committed suicide, authorities said. Police had to evacuate a park in upstate New York and close it for hours while they searched for him.

Andrew Vahey, 24, died on a hiking trail in Letchworth State Park as police officers approached him during a search along the Genesee River. That brought together many law enforcement agencies, Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters said during an evening news conference.

Vahey was wanted for the shooting earlier in the day of his grandfather, Joseph Deponceau, whose body was found in his Irondequoit home by police responding to a 911 call, Peters said.

Vahey’s roommate told police he had received text messages from Vahey “saying he had just killed his grandfather and was now going to kill himself,” Peters said.

Law enforcement officers spotted Vahey with a long gun in the park around 12:30 a.m. and attempted to make contact, but he immediately turned the gun on himself, the chief said.

He said Vahey and Deponceau recently had an argument over property and officers were called to Deponceau’s home last week because of a family dispute over parking on the lawn.