On a summer day in Queens, New York, the life of 28-year-old Selena Ponce, a registered nurse at St. John's Episcopal Hospital, was violently cut short. On July 25, 2026, a horrifying sequence of events unfolded within her family's home on Ocean Crest Boulevard in Far Rockaway, ending in a double tragedy that also claimed the life of her 56-year-old mother, Clemer Ponce. The sense of safety and sanctuary one expects from home was shattered, leaving a community in shock and a family irrevocably broken.
The incident began to unfold around noon when a desperate 911 call was made by the wife of Selena's brother, 33-year-old Kegan Thomas. She reported to dispatchers that her husband was armed with a shotgun and had "killed them." Arriving officers were met by Thomas's wife outside the residence, who reiterated that she had heard gunshots inside. This initiated a tense standoff, with Thomas barricaded inside the two-story home. The situation escalated dramatically when a large explosion erupted from the house, which quickly became engulfed in flames. Shortly after, Thomas emerged from the burning building, wearing a tactical vest and still holding the shotgun. When he refused commands to drop his weapon, police officers opened fire, critically wounding him.
Once the scene was secured and the fire was under control, authorities made a grim discovery inside the charred remains of the home. Selena Ponce was found dead from a gunshot wound to her shoulder, and her mother, Clemer, had also been fatally shot. The family's dog and cat also perished in the fire, succumbing to smoke inhalation. Neighbors and family friends described a history of tension within the household, with some expressing they had feared Thomas's increasingly erratic behavior. A military veteran, Thomas had reportedly become more isolated, and family members had allegedly grown wary of his temper long before the fatal encounter.
Following his release from the hospital, Kegan Thomas was arrested and faced a litany of serious charges for the deaths of his sister and mother. Prosecutors charged him with murder, attempted murder, arson, criminal possession of a weapon, and aggravated cruelty to animals. While his wife had indicated to the 911 operator that Thomas had a history of mental illness, authorities stated they had no prior documented mental health history for him within the NYPD's records. The case against Thomas is now moving through the criminal justice system, leaving behind unanswered questions about the motive for such a devastating act of familial violence. The overview of this case is one of a domestic dispute that escalated to a violent and fiery conclusion, resulting in the deaths of two women and the arrest of their own family member as the alleged perpetrator, leaving a lasting scar on their community.
