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Shooting near Old Forge prompts murder charge

OLD FORGE — New York State Police are investigating a shooting in the town of Webb and have charged a Rochester man with the death of one man and the attempted murder of another after he allegedly shot them in the driveway of his home following an argument at a party Saturday.

Scott R. Krempler, 50, of Patterson in downstate Putnam County, was pronounced deceased at the scene. William J. Robertello, 55, of Oriskany in Central New York’s Oneida County, was transported via LifeNet to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse with a gunshot wound, where he was treated and released.

State Police have charged Stephen E. Swanton, 43, of Rochester with second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder, both felonies.

A 8:27 p.m. Saturday, Webb and Inlet police responded to a reported home invasion at 168 Dan-Bar Acres Road, Swanton’s residence on the south side of First Lake.

A preliminary investigation has determined Swanton was involved in a verbal altercation with the two other men outside his residence, stemming from an earlier argument at a party down the road. During the altercation, Swanton allegedly shot both individuals with a handgun in his driveway.

Swanton was taken into custody by the town of Webb and Inlet police departments without incident, arraigned via Skype and remanded to the Herkimer County Jail with no bail.

The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing the investigation.

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