An Irondequoit family lost two members in a murder-suicide that began early Thursday morning at 500 Pinegrove Ave. and ended early this afternoon on a hiking trail in Letchworth State Park, 50 miles away.
At 5:38 a.m., Irondequoit police responded to the home for the report of a hysterical person saying, “There was blood everywhere,” Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters said at an early evening news conference.
When officers arrived, they found Joseph Deponceau, 80, in the front door.
“He was clearly deceased and appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body,” Peters said.
Deponceau’s girlfriend is the one who called 911 and was unharmed.
She told police what happened and identified the suspect as Deponceau’s grandson Andrew Vahey, 24, of 522 Pinegrove Ave.
Her account was supported by home security video.
Officers surrounded 522 Pinegrove and were able to contact the only person inside, Vahey’s roommate, around 7:20 a.m. He told police he had received text messages from Vahey saying he had just killed his grandfather and was going to kill himself.
After identifying Vahey’s car, Irondequoit police issued a “be on the lookout” alert. New York State Parks Police found Vahey’s car in Letchworth Park.
Several other law enforcement agencies then gathered in the park and around 12:30 p.m., they spotted Vahey on Trail 18, armed with what appeared to be a long gun, Peters said.
Officers tried to make contact with him, but he immediately used the gun to shoot himself, Peters said. Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.
Peters said Deponceau and Vahey recently had an argument over property and officers responded last week to a report of a family dispute, sparked by an argument over parking on the grass.
“That was it. We never had any problems before,” Peters said.
He said police do not know why Vahey went to Letchworth. He has no known connections to the area.
In addition to emphasizing how rare the incident was for Irondequoit, he said, “I want everyone to know that … people in that family lost a grandfather and also a grandson. To compound the tragedy of what normally doesn’t happen in Irondequoit, realize that there is a family that is suffering extremely today.”
The park, which was closed during the incident, has since reopened.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood handles general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Irondequoit murder suspect Andrew Vahey shot himself in Letchworth
