Feds: Woman bought guns used in firefighter killings

WEBSTER, N.Y. (WSYR-TV/AP) - A 24-year-old town of Greece woman has been charged in connection with the ambush slaying of two volunteer firefighters responding to a house fire in Webster.

Federal law enforcement officials say that Dawn Nguyen obtained the guns knowing that they would go to William Spengler, who police say killed himself after shooting four firefighters and killing two.

Law enforcement agents repeatedly referred to Nguyen as a "straw purchaser."

They said that the crime carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

She is also facing charges at the state level.

New York State Police Senior Investigator James Newell says Nguyen faces a state charge of filing a falsified business record.

Authorities say Nguyen and Spengler were previously neighbors.

He says the charge is connected to the purchase of a semiautomatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun that Spengler allegedly used to gun down firefighters Michael Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka. Three other people were wounded before 62-year-old Spengler killed himself.

Reached at home before her arrest, Nguyen told The Associated Press she did not want to talk about Spengler.