Irondequoit man shot dead; police say suspect was grandson of man who later took his own life in Letchworth State Park

Irondequoit police said a town man shot and killed his 80-year-old grandfather on Thursday and then drove to Letchworth State Park, where he eventually shot himself.

Police said they were called to Pinegrove Avenue early Thursday morning and found the victim, Joseph Deponceau, dead from a gunshot wound to the upper torso.

Deponceau’s girlfriend was at the house and gave police a description of the incident, which Police Chief Scott Peters said was confirmed by surveillance cameras in the house.

Peters said the suspect, 24-year-old Andrew Vahey, lived nearby and his trail eventually led to Letchworth.

Authorities evacuated campers at the state park and cordoned it off. When they found Vahey, police said he had taken his own life with a long gun.

Chief Peters said it was a tragic situation all around.

“I just want everyone to know that despite the murder, this was a case where people in the family lost a grandfather and a grandson at the same time. Adding to the tragedy that doesn’t normally occur in Irondequoit, we recognize that this is a family that is suffering extremely today,” Peters said.

Peters said there appeared to have been a dispute over property between Vahey and Deponceau in recent weeks, but there had been no reports of major problems until Thursday’s incident.