Firefighters Arrest: Woman Charged Over Firefighters Ambush Incident in NY (VIDEO, PHOTO)
Dawn Nguyen has been arrested in connection with the tragic "firefighters ambush" incident that shocked the nation just before Christmas.
The young woman has been arrested by authorities who are alleging that she provided the shooter with a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle used to ambush four volunteer firefighters and an off-duty cop in New York on Christmas Eve.
According to federal prosecutors, 24 year old Dawn Nguyen was arrested on Friday after allegedly making an illegal purchase of the rifle eventually used by 62 year old shooter William Spengler.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
On Dec. 24 the nation was left in shock after hearing how Spengler set fire to a house and car in Webster, NY and lay in wait for emergency services to arrive. When firemen showed up he used the rifle to shoot and kill two volunteer firefighters as well as himself.
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul has explained that Nguyen has been arrested on both federal and state charges for acting as a "straw purchaser," meaning she bought the Bushmaster assault weapon and a shotgun with the intent of giving it to someone who could not legally purchase it themselves.
At the time of purchasing the weapons Nguyen had to make a declaration about being the sole owner of the guns being purchased. However, authorities are now accusing her of lying in making that statement, which is a violation of federal law.
Spengler is an ex-convict, and so would have been banned from purchasing the weapons himself.
Hochul has said, "Dawn Nguyen told the seller of these weapons that she was to be true owner and buyer of these guns. It is absolutely against federal law to provide any materially false information."
Spengler's attack led to the death of two firefighters attending the scene of the shooter's ambush, as well as hospitalizing two other fire crew. In addition police officer John Ritter suffered shrapnel injuries at the scene.
Hochul has also revealed that Spengler left a typewritten note at the scene of the shootings, explaining that he had obtained the weapons from Nguyen. In that note he also said that he wanted to do "what I like doing best, killing people."
Here is a video report of the tragic incident:
