Topline: Two women were found dead in a Far Rockaway home after a shooting, a fiery explosion and a police confrontation that left the armed suspect wounded outside.
Published: July 29, 2026 7:04 am ET
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Kegan Thomas, middle, pictured with his mother, Clemer Ponce, left (Courtesy NYDN)
FAR ROCKAWAY, NY — Two women were found dead inside a Queens home after a Saturday family shooting, a house explosion and a police confrontation left the suspected gunman wounded outside the burning property.
According to PIX11 and police details reported by CBS New York and FOX 5 New York, 33-year-old Kegan Thomas was accused of killing two female relatives at the Ocean Crest Boulevard home before he came outside with a shotgun and police opened fire when he allegedly refused repeated orders to drop it.
Police said the incident began just after noon Saturday when Thomas’ wife called 911 to report that he was armed and that she had heard gunshots inside the home. Officers said she told them she went into a bedroom, saw a body on a bed, ran outside and warned responding officers that her husband had a shotgun.
Authorities said officers set a perimeter and called for Emergency Service Unit support while trying to reach Thomas inside the house. Around 12:15 p.m., as officers prepared to enter, a large explosion rocked the home, and police said Thomas came out seconds later wearing a tactical vest loaded with extra ammunition and carrying a shotgun.
Police said officers shot Thomas after he did not comply with commands to raise his hands and drop the weapon. He was taken into custody, given aid at the scene and transported to Jamaica Hospital, where local reports said he was in critical but stable condition.
The dead women were identified by police as 56-year-old Clemer Ponce and 28-year-old Selena Ponce, both of Queens. PIX11 reported, citing sources, that Thomas was suspected of killing his mother and sister, while NYPD-based reports from other local outlets described the victims as his mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Police said Thomas had no prior criminal history and no documented mental health-related interactions with the NYPD, even though his wife told 911 he had a history of mental health problems. Nearby homes were evacuated because of the fire, no other injuries were reported from the blaze, and investigators were still working to determine the victims’ exact causes of death while the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division reviewed the shooting.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: July 29, 2026 7:04 am ET
Kegan Thomas, middle, pictured with his mother, Clemer Ponce, left (Courtesy NYDN)
FAR ROCKAWAY, NY — Two women were found dead inside a Queens home after a Saturday family shooting, a house explosion and a police confrontation left the suspected gunman wounded outside the burning property.
According to PIX11 and police details reported by CBS New York and FOX 5 New York, 33-year-old Kegan Thomas was accused of killing two female relatives at the Ocean Crest Boulevard home before he came outside with a shotgun and police opened fire when he allegedly refused repeated orders to drop it.
Police said the incident began just after noon Saturday when Thomas’ wife called 911 to report that he was armed and that she had heard gunshots inside the home. Officers said she told them she went into a bedroom, saw a body on a bed, ran outside and warned responding officers that her husband had a shotgun.
Authorities said officers set a perimeter and called for Emergency Service Unit support while trying to reach Thomas inside the house. Around 12:15 p.m., as officers prepared to enter, a large explosion rocked the home, and police said Thomas came out seconds later wearing a tactical vest loaded with extra ammunition and carrying a shotgun.
Police said officers shot Thomas after he did not comply with commands to raise his hands and drop the weapon. He was taken into custody, given aid at the scene and transported to Jamaica Hospital, where local reports said he was in critical but stable condition.
The dead women were identified by police as 56-year-old Clemer Ponce and 28-year-old Selena Ponce, both of Queens. PIX11 reported, citing sources, that Thomas was suspected of killing his mother and sister, while NYPD-based reports from other local outlets described the victims as his mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Police said Thomas had no prior criminal history and no documented mental health-related interactions with the NYPD, even though his wife told 911 he had a history of mental health problems. Nearby homes were evacuated because of the fire, no other injuries were reported from the blaze, and investigators were still working to determine the victims’ exact causes of death while the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division reviewed the shooting.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Gunman Emerges From Exploding Home in Tactical Vest After Allegedly Killing Two Women
Two women were found dead in a Far Rockaway home after a shooting, a fiery explosion and a police confrontation that left the armed suspect wounded outside.
By Silvia Torres
Published: July 29, 2026 7:04 am ET
Kegan Thomas, middle, pictured with his mother, Clemer Ponce, left (Courtesy NYDN)
FAR ROCKAWAY, NY — Two women were found dead inside a Queens home after a Saturday family shooting, a house explosion and a police confrontation left the suspected gunman wounded outside the burning property.
According to PIX11 and police details reported by CBS New York and FOX 5 New York, 33-year-old Kegan Thomas was accused of killing two female relatives at the Ocean Crest Boulevard home before he came outside with a shotgun and police opened fire when he allegedly refused repeated orders to drop it.
Police said the incident began just after noon Saturday when Thomas’ wife called 911 to report that he was armed and that she had heard gunshots inside the home. Officers said she told them she went into a bedroom, saw a body on a bed, ran outside and warned responding officers that her husband had a shotgun.
Authorities said officers set a perimeter and called for Emergency Service Unit support while trying to reach Thomas inside the house. Around 12:15 p.m., as officers prepared to enter, a large explosion rocked the home, and police said Thomas came out seconds later wearing a tactical vest loaded with extra ammunition and carrying a shotgun.
Police said officers shot Thomas after he did not comply with commands to raise his hands and drop the weapon. He was taken into custody, given aid at the scene and transported to Jamaica Hospital, where local reports said he was in critical but stable condition.
The dead women were identified by police as 56-year-old Clemer Ponce and 28-year-old Selena Ponce, both of Queens. PIX11 reported, citing sources, that Thomas was suspected of killing his mother and sister, while NYPD-based reports from other local outlets described the victims as his mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Police said Thomas had no prior criminal history and no documented mental health-related interactions with the NYPD, even though his wife told 911 he had a history of mental health problems. Nearby homes were evacuated because of the fire, no other injuries were reported from the blaze, and investigators were still working to determine the victims’ exact causes of death while the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division reviewed the shooting.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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