The incident unfolded just before noon Saturday at a home on Ocean Crest Boulevard near Beach 25 Street in Far Rockaway. Police say the wife of the suspect, called 911 to tell officers her husband is armed and mentally ill.
"The caller states that her husband is armed and had a history of mental illness and he 'killed them, killed them,'" said NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher Mcintosh.
When police arrived, the woman told officers that her husband, 33-year-old Kegan Thomas was inside the home with a shotgun and that she heard a shot and saw a body on the bed.
Police then waited on ESU while trying to call Thomas, but they are unable to reach him. When ESU arrived at the scene, there was a large explosion at the home.
Thomas then emerged from the home armed with a shotgun and wearing a tactical vest. Officers told him to drop the gun, but he did not comply, so they shot him and he was taken to the hospital.
"They basically did what they did and protected whoever was in this neighborhood,." said Shameeka.
Police then discovered the bodies of two family members inside the burning home. It is unclear what their relationship or cause of death is. Thomas' wife was not injured.
Nearby homes were evacuated when the house began to engulf in flames.
Police say Thomas had no criminal history and no mental health history documented with the department.
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