Two relations have been discovered useless inside a Far Rockaway, Queens house Saturday after police shot and wounded an armed man who they are saying uttered the phrases “kill them, kill them.” The confrontation occurred moments after an explosion was heard from throughout the house. Mayor Zohran Mamdani mentioned Saturday night in a put up on X that each victims have been girls. Their names haven’t been launched.
Authorities say that officers went to the home at 2533 Ocean Crest Blvd. after getting a name of pictures fired simply after midday Saturday from the spouse of the suspect, Kegan Thomas, 33. They discovered the spouse outdoors the house.
Smoke billowed from a house the place police say an explosion was heard moments earlier than officers shot a gunman. (Picture: NBC New York through Citizen App)
“She informed the officers that she heard weapons, gunshots within the room. Walked into the room the place she heard pictures, and she or he noticed a physique on the mattress,” mentioned NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South. “She instantly ran out of the residence and referred to as 9-1-1. Moreover, she informed the responding officers to watch out,” as a result of her husband had a shotgun, he mentioned.
Police say Keegan Thomas, 33, was holding this firearm and refused to place it down. Two relations have been discovered useless inside the house the place the capturing occurred. (Picture: NBC New York through NYPD)
Officers on the scene requested rapid backup, together with the assistance of the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit to seal off the realm. Whereas ready, officers tried a number of occasions to name and speak to Thomas, McIntosh mentioned.
“As ESU was making ready to make entry into the residence at roughly 12:15, a big fiery explosion erupted from the home,” McIntosh defined. Inside 20 seconds, he mentioned Thomas emerged from the home armed with a shotgun whereas carrying a tactical vest with extra ammunition.
Police say they repeatedly warned Thomas to drop the gun. When he did not, officers opened hearth, critically wounding him. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital. Investigators haven’t revealed how the 2 girls discovered useless have been associated to Thomas or his spouse. The reason for their deaths had not been decided when the NYPD briefed reporters Saturday afternoon.
Quite a few proof markers stuffed the road as police investigated the incident on Ocean Crest Blvd. in Far Rockaway, Queens Saturday. (Picture: NBC New York)
“Once I was taking my son downstairs, the cops already had their weapons drawn in direction of the home the place the hearth occurred,” mentioned neighbor Shawn Williamson. “After which, they informed me ‘return upstairs,’ so I went again upstairs and by the point I went again upstairs to look out the window to see what was happening, there was an explosion that occurred first.”
Williamson mentioned after the explosion, “someone got here out and that is after they informed them ‘get on the bottom, drop the weapon,’ after which they began capturing.”
Responding officers have been additionally taken to the hospital.
The FDNY says it was referred to as to the home close to Hartman Ln. shortly after midday. When crews arrived, they discovered the home on hearth.
Video from the Citizen App confirmed heavy smoke coming from the house. The home sits close to Q302 Queens Excessive Faculty for Data, Analysis, and Expertise.
Police say Thomas has no prison historical past or file of psychological well being points that the NYPD had been conscious of, mentioned McIntosh, who added that there’s bodycam video of the confrontation. The capturing is being investigated by the division’s Drive Investigation Division.
When requested by NBC New York, police couldn’t instantly say what sort of explosive gadget could have been set off.
The ESU crew was by no means in a position to begin a dialog with Thomas earlier than the confrontation that led to the capturing, he mentioned.
