GRAFTON — State police arrested a 26-year-old Grafton man on charges including first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three family members at their home.
Joshua M. Fowler was charged with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the June 18 killings.
Rensselaer County 911 dispatchers received a call at approximately 6:36 p.m. June 18 from a woman who identified herself as Whitney Fowler.
The caller said there was an altercation between herself and her husband Joshua Fowler at their home at 385 South Road and requested police assistance.
Dispatchers heard what they believed to be gunshots while on the phone with the caller.
Troopers arrived at the residence at approximately 6:50 p.m. and found Joshua Fowler outside the home holding a long gun.
After Fowler failed to follow multiple orders to put the firearm down, law enforcement used tasers during a brief standoff and took him into custody unharmed.
A search of the property located Whitney L. Fowler, 27, deceased outside the home.
Wilson P. Fowler, 55, and Anita L. Crandall, 69, were found deceased inside the home.
All three victims lived at the residence and had sustained gunshot wounds.
Wilson Fowler is the father of Joshua Fowler, and Anita Crandall is the maternal grandmother of Joshua Fowler.
An additional adult who lives at the home was not there at the time of the incident.
South Road was closed between Johnson Road and Snyder Road for the investigation and has since been reopened.
Joshua Fowler was arraigned at Brunswick Town Court and remanded to the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility without bail.
The investigation is ongoing.
