Nassau police shoot, kill David Clements, 19, who ran at officers with gun drawn in Massapequa, officials say
Nassau police respond to a Stone Boulevard home after receiving a 911 call about a man armed with a gun on Friday night. Credit: Jim Staubitser
A 19-year-old man was shot dead by Nassau County police after he charged at them with a loaded gun on the driveway of his Massapequa home on Friday night, officials said Saturday.
David Clements was killed by a single officer after he allegedly rushed toward police, pointing a 9 mm handgun with a light, following earlier statements indicating he wanted to die, officials said.
Officers were called to the Clements’ Stone Boulevard home around 8:30 p.m. for a report of a suicidal man, police said. A neighbor made the 911 call after Clements showed up at his residence with a weapon and told him he wanted to kill himself, according to Patrick Ryder, Nassau County police commissioner.
When officers arrived at the ranch house, police said, Clements was standing outside holding handguns. Clements, who has a history of mental illness, held a gun in each hand and, pointing the weapons at his head, said: “Tell my mother I love her. I don't want to live,” Ryder said during a news conference at police headquarters.
Clements did not heed police instruction to drop his weapons but instead briefly slipped back into his home, only to return flashing the loaded gun, Ryder said.
“He was threatening to kill himself several times. The officers gave him directions to drop the weapon … at some point that individual ran back into his house for a second, turned around, came out with a loaded nine millimeter handgun with a very bright flashlight on it” and ran down the driveway toward the officers, Ryder said. Two guns later recovered by police were BB guns, and the third was a loaded 9 mm, police said.
Clements was pronounced dead at the scene by a medic with the Nassau County Police Department.
Ryder said he believed the shooting was “by the book,” and the department will cooperate with the New York Attorney General’s Office, which investigates fatal incidents involving police. The officers were all wearing body cameras, and video is being reviewed, he said.
He said Clements’ mother was home at the time and is cooperating with police.
Ryder called it a tragedy for the family and for the officer.
Charles Fowler, who lives across the street from Clements, said he was doing his taxes Friday night when he heard two gunshots and called police. Fowler said he didn't know the family.
Chris Thomas, who lives next door to Clements but did not know him, said he was sleeping and when he woke up he learned that police were outside:
“My daughter told me that cops were outside with their guns drawn and then … I heard three shots and told my family to get into a backroom.”
“It's sad,” he said.
“We've been living here five years and it's a quiet neighborhood.”
With Janon Fisher
A 19-year-old man was shot dead by Nassau County police after he charged at them with a loaded gun on the driveway of his Massapequa home on Friday night, officials said Saturday.
David Clements was killed by a single officer after he allegedly rushed toward police, pointing a 9 mm handgun with a light, following earlier statements indicating he wanted to die, officials said.
Officers were called to the Clements’ Stone Boulevard home around 8:30 p.m. for a report of a suicidal man, police said. A neighbor made the 911 call after Clements showed up at his residence with a weapon and told him he wanted to kill himself, according to Patrick Ryder, Nassau County police commissioner.
When officers arrived at the ranch house, police said, Clements was standing outside holding handguns. Clements, who has a history of mental illness, held a gun in each hand and, pointing the weapons at his head, said: “Tell my mother I love her. I don't want to live,” Ryder said during a news conference at police headquarters.
Clements did not heed police instruction to drop his weapons but instead briefly slipped back into his home, only to return flashing the loaded gun, Ryder said.
“He was threatening to kill himself several times. The officers gave him directions to drop the weapon … at some point that individual ran back into his house for a second, turned around, came out with a loaded nine millimeter handgun with a very bright flashlight on it” and ran down the driveway toward the officers, Ryder said. Two guns later recovered by police were BB guns, and the third was a loaded 9 mm, police said.
Clements was pronounced dead at the scene by a medic with the Nassau County Police Department.
Ryder said he believed the shooting was “by the book,” and the department will cooperate with the New York Attorney General’s Office, which investigates fatal incidents involving police. The officers were all wearing body cameras, and video is being reviewed, he said.
He said Clements’ mother was home at the time and is cooperating with police.
Ryder called it a tragedy for the family and for the officer.
Charles Fowler, who lives across the street from Clements, said he was doing his taxes Friday night when he heard two gunshots and called police. Fowler said he didn't know the family.
Chris Thomas, who lives next door to Clements but did not know him, said he was sleeping and when he woke up he learned that police were outside:
“My daughter told me that cops were outside with their guns drawn and then … I heard three shots and told my family to get into a backroom.”
“It's sad,” he said.
“We've been living here five years and it's a quiet neighborhood.”
With Janon Fisher
