In the quiet neighborhood of Far Rockaway, Queens, a horrific tragedy unfolded on July 25, 2026, shattering the peace of a Saturday afternoon and leaving a family irrevocably broken. Clemer Ponce, a 56-year-old woman, was killed inside her home on Ocean Crest Boulevard. Also found deceased was her 28-year-old daughter, Selena Ponce. Both women had been fatally shot. The idyllic scene of suburban life was violently disrupted by a desperate 911 call that would soon lead to a police standoff and a fiery conclusion.
The events began to unravel when the wife of 33-year-old Kegan Thomas made a frantic call to the police, reporting that her husband was armed with a shotgun and had killed family members inside their shared home. She warned the dispatcher that Thomas had a history of mental illness. When officers arrived at the residence, they found a barricaded situation. As the Emergency Service Unit was preparing to enter the house, a large explosion erupted, and the home was quickly engulfed in flames. Shortly after the explosion, Thomas emerged from the burning structure wearing a tactical vest and still armed with the shotgun. After he refused repeated commands to drop his weapon, police officers opened fire, striking and critically injuring him.
Once the scene was secured and the fire was under control, investigators made a grim discovery inside the charred remains of the house. They found the bodies of Clemer Ponce and her daughter, Selena. Clemer had sustained a gunshot wound to the upper right chest, and Selena had been shot in the right shoulder. The family's dog and cat also perished in the fire from smoke inhalation. Kegan Thomas, who was Clemer's son and Selena's brother, was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. Neighbors and family friends expressed their shock and sorrow, with some indicating that there had been long-standing fears about Thomas's behavior. Despite his wife's report of mental health issues, the NYPD stated that Thomas had no prior criminal record or documented mental health interactions with them. Thomas was subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, arson, aggravated cruelty to animals, and criminal possession of a weapon. The case stands as a chilling reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence, leaving a community to mourn the senseless loss of two lives.
