Police shot and wounded a Queens man on Saturday after he allegedly killed his mother and sister and detonated an explosive device in their Far Rockaway home. Kegan Thomas, 33, was in critical condition after the confrontation with NYPD officers, according to authorities.
The incident began around noon on Saturday when Thomas's wife called 911. Responding officers found the bodies of Selena Ponce, 28, and her mother, 56-year-old Clemer Ponce, inside the Ocean Crest Boulevard residence. Police reported that Thomas was armed with a shotgun and wearing a bulletproof vest.
When the NYPD Emergency Services Unit arrived, an explosion occurred inside the house before officers entered. According to NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh, officers repeatedly ordered Thomas to drop his weapon. After he failed to comply, officers discharged their firearms, striking him.
Neighbors reported that loud fights were a common occurrence at the home. One neighbor, John White, described Thomas as someone who was "never normal" and often exhibited a "thousand-yard stare."
Authorities have not yet officially charged Thomas, who remained hospitalized in critical condition as of Monday.