An armed man wearing tactical gear emerged from a burning Queens home after a fiery explosion Saturday and was shot by New York City Police Department officers, authorities said. Two family members were found dead inside the residence. The suspect, identified as Keegan Thompson, 33, was taken into custody and remains in critical but stable condition at Jamaica Hospital.
Police responded to a 911 call just after noon on Ocean Crest Boulevard in Far Rockaway after a caller reported that her husband was armed. When officers arrived, they encountered a woman outside who said she had heard gunshots, entered a room and found a body on a bed before leaving the house and calling 911. She also warned law enforcement that her husband had a shotgun, according to NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh.
Officers established a perimeter and requested the NYPD Emergency Service Unit while repeatedly attempting to contact the suspect, but were unable to establish communication. At approximately 12:15 p.m., as ESU officers prepared to enter, a large explosion erupted inside the home, McIntosh said. Fifteen to 20 seconds later, Thompson emerged from the burning structure carrying a shotgun and wearing a tactical vest loaded with ammunition.
Officers ordered him multiple times to raise his hands and drop the weapon. When he failed to comply and continued holding the shotgun, an officer fired, striking him. He was taken into custody and officers rendered aid before he was transported to the hospital. McIntosh said Thompson has no criminal history or history of mental illness documented by the NYPD.
Inside the home, officers later discovered two dead family members. The victims have not been identified, and investigators are working to determine their causes of death. As flames engulfed the house, responding officers evacuated neighboring homes to protect nearby residents.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. When asked whether explosives were involved, McIntosh said the investigation is ongoing. The shooting was captured on officers' body-worn cameras and is being investigated by the NYPD's Force Investigation Division.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media that he had been briefed on the incident and praised the NYPD's swift response. «I am grateful for the NYPD's swift response and bravery, and am thankful no officers were injured,» Mamdani wrote. «My heart is with the loved ones of the victims who were killed today.»
McIntosh commended the responding officers, stating, «The bravery of the officers who responded today cannot be overstated. They responded to a 911 call not knowing what was waiting for them, and they ran toward the danger with no hesitation.»
