A 33-year-old man who was shot by police after gunning down his mother and sister and setting off a block-shaking explosion inside their Queens home had become isolated following his military service, neighbors told the Daily News.
Clemer Ponce, 56, and Selena Ponce, 28, were killed inside their home on Ocean Crest Blvd. near Hartman Ln. in Far Rockaway just before noon on Saturday, according to police. Before finding their bodies, cops attempted to establish a conversation with Keegan Thomas, 33, who had barricaded himself inside the two-story residence.
Following a large explosion inside the garage that quickly engulfed the house in flames, Thomas ran out of the home holding a shotgun, and several police officers opened fire at him.
Neighbors told the Daily News that Thomas was a veteran who had suffered from mental illness following his military service.
“I’ve met him twice. One time, I guess the Mom introduced us, and she wanted, I guess, us to be friends, cause he didn’t have any friends in the area,” a neighbor who lived next door to Thomas, 29-year-old Pierre Mazile said. “He didn’t really want any friends. He stated that himself. He didn’t want to associate himself with anybody.”
Mazile’s wife, Genesis Jimenez, 27, who described herself as a family friend, had coffee and empanadas with both victims about 20 minutes before the gunfire began.
“I feel like if maybe I would have stood a little longer, it was either I was gonna be another victim along with them, or I was just gonna stop the whole crime from happening,” Jimenez said. “I love them, even though they won’t know it.”
Obtained by Daily News
Clemer Ponce, left, and Selena Ponce. (Obtained by Daily News)
Jimenez said Clemer, who grew up in Trinidad, was her child’s godmother, while Selena Ponce, a nurse at St. John’s Hospital, who was “like a sister” to her.
Following her visit with the victims, Jiminez went back home to take a nap, but soon heard police swarming the street, followed soon by an explosion, then gunfire. When Jiminez saw only Thomas’ wife standing outside with police, she was immediately frightened that Thomas had “done something,” she told The News.
”The mom said that he came back from the military, like, really messed up in the head,” Jiminez said.
“Within 15 to 20 seconds of the explosion, the subject emerged from the house armed with a shotgun while wearing a tactical vest with additional ammo in it,” NYPD Chief Christopher McIntosh revealed at a press conference.
Cops had been alerted about the situation by Thomas’ wife, who called 911 after hearing gunshots and discovering a body on a bed. Thomas’ wife warned responding officers that Thomas had a mental illness and was armed, McIntosh added.
“Kill, kill them, kill them,” Thomas said, according to McIntosh
Video from a witness posted on social media shows a chaotic scene, with more than 10 gunshots fired and thick clouds of black smoke billowing from the house. Multiple officers shout, “Don’t move!” as heavily armed cops advance steadily toward the home. In turn, a fire erupted from the explosion as 21 firefighters and EMS personnel rushed to the scene. The blaze was placed under control by around 1:13 p.m., the FDNY said. “After failing to comply with repeat commands to put his hands up and still armed with a shotgun, officers discharged their weapons and struck the subject,” McIntosh said.
Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News
Police shot and wounded armed suspect Kegan Thomas at a home in Far Rockaway, where two of the suspect’s relatives were found dead and a fire was started on Saturday. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)
Mazile watched through his window as the warzone-like scene unfolded. He described how, after police arrived, the garage explosion rocked the neighborhood. “The house was shaking from the explosion,” he said. “We got down on the ground. You seen the garage door, like, just blow open. From then on, it was just smoke coming in.” “It all happened so fast. The moment he even stepped outside, shots were fired. He got shot, shot a few times, and he fell down.”
“It’s traumatic. It’s just unbelievable. I mean, I knew the neighbor had issues and all that stuff, but I never think it would get that far,” Mazile said. “They already knew he was suffering from a mental issue. I just wish they would have got him help sooner.”
EMS rushed Thomas to Jamaica Hospital where he was in critical but stable condition. His arraignment was pending on Sunday.
Thomas had no criminal history or known mental health history, the police official said.