By Bob Gardinier
Times-Union Staff Writer

Poestenkill, N.Y. — A distraught town man called his son in Alabama and threatened to harm family members at their Route 66 home, but by the time the son got through to local 911 operators it was too late.

Before the out-of-state 911 call from Todd Pryor was transferred to Rensselear County on Tuesday afternoon, authorities already were responding to another 911 call — this one from the scene of the incident Pryor had hoped to prevent.

At about 3 p.m., Robert Pryor Sr., 70, shot his daughter, Laurie Fisher, 49, and his granddaughter’s boyfriend, Anthony Delgado, 24, and then shot and killed himself with the same handgun, Undersheriff Patrick Russo said.

On Wednesday, authorities did not have details about how the 911 call from Alabama was routed or how long it took for that call to go through. Russo said authorities were summoned to the house by Fisher, who was able to call 911 after being wounded.

Officials said emergency communications during the incident were not affected by problems with the county’s 911 system caused later Tuesday night by a lightning strike.

Fisher and Delgado were found in a front room of the home, police said. Robert Pryor was found on a couch and was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center Hospital at 4:02 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Fisher, who was shot once, remains in serious condition at Albany Medical Center Hospital, though she is alert an talking, Russo said.

Delgado was shot twice, and one bullet pierced his heart, Russo said. He is in critical condition at the same hospital.

Russo said authorities have found no evidence to substantiate earlier reports that Robert Pryor may have battled mental illness.

Todd Pryor said his father was angry at his daughter and family members over some issue, Russo said.

The incident is still under investigation.

Russo said Robert Pryor had several guns in the home but had permits for all of them, including the handgun he used in the shootings.

Authorities had little information about Robert Pryor’s background and work history, and family members could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Robert Pryor called Fisher and Delgado by cellphone and asked them to quickly come home from a trip they were taking to a local grocery store. He then shot them both in the chest as they came through the front door of the home at 9403 Route 66.

Robert Pryor then turned the revolver on himself and inflicted a fatal gunshot wound to his head, police said.

Delgado was living with Robert Pryor to help him with medical problems, authorities said.

Robert Pryor had just moved into the home in recent weeks, police said.

None of the neighbors interviewed Tuesday said they knew much about Robert Pryor, but neighbors Ron Henrikson and Dennis Lemner said he was the father-in-law of Frank Fisher, owner of the Hollywood Drive-in. The drive-in is at 9254 Route 66, just down the road from where the shootings occurred.

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