Police Refuse To Confirm Murder/Suicide

"AUSTIN, TX — A former local volunteer firefighter and ambulance professional who assisted at Ground Zero in the days following Sept. 11, 2001 is suspected of killing his wife in Texas early Sunday before fatally turning his gun on himself.

"Leonard A. Joseph, 47, a longtime Western New York resident who most recently lived in Akron before moving to Texas in 2009, was found shot with his wife, Lara Joseph, 40, early Sunday in suburban Austin, Hays County sheriff's officials reported.

"Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Gutierrez said authorities responded to the couple's Wild Rose Drive home about 3:45 a.m. for a report of two victims with gunshot wounds. When they arrived, Lara Joseph was dead. Leonard Joseph sustained a gunshot wound to his head, according to reports.

"He was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he died Monday.

"`The investigation is ongoing pending autopsy results,` said Gutierrez, who refused to confirm a murder-suicide had occurred. However, he said police had determined `no third party was involved` in the crime.

"Family members told The Buffalo News Tuesday night that sheriff's officials have confirmed to them that it was a murder-suicide."

From buffalonews.com...