Two family members were found dead inside a home in the Far Rockaway section of Queens on Saturday after an armed barricade that ended when the house erupted in a fiery explosion and police opened fire on the gunman. The New York Police Department called the standoff a stark reminder of the dangers officers face, and said the account it was providing was preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues.
According to the NYPD, patrol officers from the 101 Precinct responded at approximately 12:02 p.m. to 2533 Ocean Crest Boulevard after a 911 call reporting shots fired. The caller told a dispatcher that her husband was armed and had a history of mental illness, and quoted him as saying that he had killed them, a chilling warning of what officers might find as they raced to the scene.
When officers arrived, they encountered the man's wife outside the residence. She told them she had heard gunshots in a room, walked in to where the shots came from and saw a body on the bed, then immediately ran out and called 911. She also warned the responding officers to be careful because her husband had a shotgun, prompting them to call for backup and set up a safe perimeter around the home.
While waiting for the department's Emergency Service Unit, patrol officers tried several times to call the man and open a conversation, but were unable to establish any dialogue with him. The Emergency Service Unit arrived at around 12:12 p.m. and began preparing to make entry into the residence as the tense standoff dragged on.
At approximately 12:15 p.m., a large fiery explosion erupted from the house. Within 15 to 20 seconds of the blast, the man emerged from the home armed with a shotgun and wearing a tactical vest loaded with additional ammunition. Officers issued numerous verbal commands for him to raise his hands and drop the weapon, but he refused to comply and remained armed.
Officers then discharged their weapons and struck the man, taking him into custody and rendering aid at the scene. He was transported to Jamaica Hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition. Responding officers were also taken to an area hospital, while inside the residence two deceased family members were found, their identities still pending and the exact cause of death for both still being determined.
The department identified the suspect as 33-year-old Keegan Thompson, who it said had no criminal history and no documented history of mental health issues on file with the NYPD. As the home became engulfed in flames, officers moved quickly to evacuate nearby houses and keep residents safe. The incident was captured on body-worn camera and is being reviewed by the department's Force Investigation Division, with the type of explosive involved still under investigation.