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New details have emerged about a tragic triple homicide in Grafton. According to New York State Police, 26-year-old Joshua Fowler has been charged with multiple counts of murder after allegedly shooting and killing his wife, 27-year-old Whitney Fowler, his father, Wilson Fowler, 55, and his maternal grandmother, Anita Crandall, 69, on Wednesday night (June 18).
The incident occurred at a residence on South Road. State Police received a call at 6:36 p.m. from Whitney Fowler, who reported an altercation with her husband. Dispatchers then heard what sounded like gunshots. When officers arrived at 6:50 p.m., they found Whitney Fowler deceased outside the home. Joshua Fowler was armed with a semi-automatic rifle and refused to comply with orders to drop the weapon. Officers used Tasers to subdue him and take him into custody, according to Times Union.
Inside the home, police discovered the bodies of Wilson Fowler and Anita Crandall, both dead from gunshot wounds. Joshua Fowler faces charges including first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and possession of a weapon. He was arraigned in Brunswick Town Court and is currently held without bail in the Rensselaer County Jail.
State Police have responded to previous domestic incidents at the Fowler home, involving Joshua Fowler and his family members, in 2018 and 2021. However, no arrests were made during those incidents, as reported by NEWS10 ABC. The investigation into the motive behind the shootings is ongoing, and further updates are expected from the Rensselaer County District Attorney's office in the coming weeks.