Nassau County Police fatally shot 19-year-old David Clements on Friday night, February 2, 2024, in Massapequa, New York, after he pointed a handgun at officers.
The confrontation occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Stone Boulevard.
According to Commissioner Patrick Ryder, the situation began to unfold when neighbors reported Clements’ erratic behavior, including displaying firearms and talking about killing himself.
Upon the arrival of the police, Clements was observed pointing two guns, one in each hand, at his own head while expressing a desire to die and asking to convey his love to his mother.
Despite initial attempts to retreat into his home, he re-emerged, brandishing a loaded 9mm gun with an attached flashlight, and rushed down the driveway towards the responding officers.
The confrontation ended when a Nassau County Police officer discharged their weapon, resulting in Clements’ death at the scene.
One neighbor described the situation as “highly tense.”
“The atmosphere intensified significantly after he retreated indoors and then reappeared outside. An officer could be heard emphatically demanding the individual to drop his weapon, repeating the command multiple times,” the neighbor added.
Commissioner Ryder later clarified that of the three guns Clements possessed, two were BB guns, and the third was the 9mm handgun.
Ryder characterized the incident as a case of “suicide by cop,” suggesting Clements’ actions were intended to provoke a lethal response from law enforcement.
The incident left the community in dismay. “We were in our living room when suddenly we heard three gunshots,” shared another neighbor, a man in his 60s. He recounted his disbelief and the swift arrival of police forces, labeling the experience as distressing.
According to other neighbors, the family at the center of the incident, known to reside in their home for around ten years, is noted for their reclusiveness.
A woman who lives across the street mentioned to a local news outlet that Clements was accepted and befriended despite the young man being considered somewhat “unconventional” by neighborhood children. Police said he had a history of mental illness.
Following the incident, the Homicide Squad of the Nassau County Police Department, along with the Office of the New York State Attorney General, initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the application of lethal force.