A troubled military veteran was indicted for the murder of his mother and sister, whom he shot to death before setting their Queens home ablaze while the family’s dog and cat remained trapped inside, officials said Friday.
Kegan Thomas, 33, was charged in the indictment unsealed Friday with murder, attempted murder, arson, criminal possession of a weapon and cruelty to animals for the wild orgy of violence, which ended when he was wounded in an armed standoff with police on July 25.
He faces life in prison without parole if convicted on the top charge, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
“The defendant killed his mother and sister in cold blood by shooting them to death,” Katz said. “He then deliberately set a fire and caused an explosion inside of the family’s home during a standoff with the police”
“When he emerged from the residence, he was carrying a shotgun and wearing a tactical vest. He approached responding police officers while holding the shotgun pointed in their direction and failed to comply with NYPD orders to put his hands up. He was shot by responding officers.”
Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News
NYPD officers shot and wounded armed suspect Keegan Thomas at a Queens home on Ocean Crest Blvd. near Hartman Ln. in Far Rockaway on July 25. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)
Thomas shot his mother, Clemer Ponce, 66, and sister, Selena Ponce, 29, with a shotgun inside a bedroom in their first-floor apartment on Ocean Crest Blvd. near Hartman Lane in Far Rockaway around 11:55 a.m., prosecutors said.
The suspect was unarmed, standing outside the home when police arrived, but ducked back into the apartment when officers approached him.
As cops banged on the door, ordering Thomas to exit the building, an explosion erupted inside the victims’ home and the apartment erupted in flames.
Thomas exited a few seconds later, this time sporting a tactical vest and toting a shotgun, which he leveled at police, prosecutors said. He was shot when multiple officers opened fire after ordering him to drop his weapon.
Obtained by Daily News
NYPD officers shot and wounded armed suspect Keegan Thomas (center) at a Queens home on Ocean Crest Blvd. near Hartman Ln. in Far Rockaway, where two of the suspect’s relatives, including his mother (left), were found dead and a fire was started on July 25. (Obtained by Daily News)
A pit bull-boxer mix was later found dead in the victims’ living room and the remains of a kitten were discovered in their garage. Both animals died of smoke inhalation, according to a necropsy.
“This horrifying act of violence destroyed a family and left a community in shock,” Katz said.
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,” Pierre Mazile, 29, a neighbor who lived next door to Thomas, said. “He didn’t really want any friends. He stated that himself. He didn’t want to associate himself with anybody.”
Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News
NYPD officers shot and wounded armed suspect Keegan Thomas at a Queens home on Ocean Crest Blvd. near Hartman Ln. in Far Rockaway, where two of the suspect’s relatives were found dead and a fire was started on July 25. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)
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 stayed 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.”
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, according to NYPD Chief Christopher McIntosh.
“Kill, kill them, kill them,” Thomas said, according to McIntosh.