Kegan Thomas, 33, was apprehended by NYC police officials after receiving a 911 call from his wife reporting gunfire inside their Far Rockaway home. He is suspected of killing his mother and sister before setting off an explosion inside the house.

When the NYPD Emergency Services Unit arrived, Thomas emerged armed and allegedly fired at officers after they repeatedly ordered him to drop his weapon.

NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh told reporters at the Saturday briefing, “After failing to comply with repeat commands to put his hands up and still armed [with] the shotgun, officers discharged their weapons and struck the suspect.”

According to the latest reports, Thomas has not been formally charged and remains hospitalized while recovering from his injuries.

Before discovering the victims’ bodies, police officers attempted to communicate with Thomas, who had barricaded himself inside the home.

As officers investigate the incident, neighbors have shared details about his behavior in the lead-up to the alleged killings.

Speaking to the New York Post, neighbor John White said Thomas long displayed unsettling behavior during their everyday interactions. “There was something crazy about him. I always saw that twink in his eye. He was just never normal. I always avoided conversations with him,” he said, adding that loud fights were a regular occurrence at the house.

White also described hearing Thomas shouting during the confrontation with police officers. According to the neighbor, “He was screaming things like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna kill everybody. I’m gonna kill the block. I’m killing them all.'”

According to police, Thomas had no prior criminal record or a documented history of mental health issues. However, neighbors said he appeared to become increasingly isolated after his military discharge. Thomas’s wife, who first contacted the emergency services, reportedly told officers the former serviceman had a history of mental health issues. Family friend Genesis Jimenez said she learned about Thomas’s mental state through conversations with his mother, Clemer Ponce, and his sister, Selena Ponce.

Jimenez also expressed regret for not staying with the family longer before the incident. She said remaining at the house might have changed the outcome, or that she, too, could have become one of the victims.

Online reactions to the tragedy have largely focused on condolences for the family. One comment stated, “We are not all that far away from this.” A second user noted, “We’re literally living amongst the sick and unwell !! I’m so sorry for this family, ugh” A third user wrote, “How terrible. Praying for their family.”

Disclaimer: Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available.