CROPSEYVILLE, NY – A Rensselaer County man has confessed to killing his wife, father, and grandmother in a brutal outburst of domestic violence that shocked a rural upstate New York community.

Joshua Fowler, 26, pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the June 18 shooting at his family’s home on South Road in Cropseyville. The conviction comes after months of investigation and a history of troubled interactions between Fowler and law enforcement, authorities said.

Court documents confirm that the victims included Whitney Fowler, 27, the defendant’s wife; Wilson Fowler, 55, his father; and Anita Crandall, 69, his grandmother. The rampage began following an altercation between Joshua Fowler and his wife, who called 911 for help around 6:30 p.m. As she spoke with the emergency dispatcher, the operator heard gunfire through the line.

Deputies and state troopers rushed to the scene after multiple previous domestic calls to the same address. Upon arrival, they encountered Fowler outside, holding the rifle believed to have been used to kill all three family members. Despite orders to surrender, authorities said Fowler refused to drop his weapon and was subdued with a stun device before being taken into custody without further resistance.

Investigators later determined that each victim was fatally shot in a separate act during the incident, as Fowler admitted in his plea. When officers entered the home, they found Wilson Fowler and Anita Crandall dead inside; Whitney Fowler’s body was outside the residence.

Members of the Fowler family said the tragedy followed long-standing concerns over the shooter’s mental health. According to his mother, alarms over his behavior and warnings about his potential for violence had persisted for years, but unsuccessfully led to intervention.

Prosecutors had initially charged Fowler with first-degree murder, a charge that carried a mandatory life sentence without parole, but agreed to drop it following his guilty plea to the three counts of second-degree murder. Despite the plea agreement, he still faces a significant punishment of 45 years to life in prison for each count.

During the court appearance Monday, Fowler acknowledged under oath that each killing was a separate crime committed with a rifle. The plea marks a critical step toward closure for the devastated family and leads to his upcoming sentencing.

Authorities also revealed that, following his arrest, Fowler gave indications that he hoped to provoke responding officers into fatally shooting him—an act often referred to as “suicide by cop.” Police credited their swift and measured response for preventing further loss of life during the tense standoff.

No one else was injured in the incident. The sentencing for Joshua Fowler is scheduled for January 26 before Rensselaer County Court Judge Jennifer Sober. Prosecutors say the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of untreated mental illness and the tragic consequences of domestic violence.