MASSAPEQUA, NY (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — In what the Nassau County Police Commissioner called the definition of suicide by cop, a 19-year-old Massapequa man in possession of three weapons was fatally shot by Nassau County police on Friday evening when he rushed at officers while pointing a loaded nine millimeter gun.
The shooting occurred at 8:29 p.m. on Friday, after police responded to a neighbor's 911 call reporting a suicidal 19-year-old at a Stone Boulevard residence, officials said.
Officers discovered David Clements standing in front of his home with three handguns. Police said that he had a gun in each hand and was pointing them at his head.
Clements was threatening to kill himself and did not obey numerous officer commands to drop his weapons, police said.
"He had three guns when he first showed up at the officers, and he was pointing them to his head, stating that 'tell my mother I love her, I don’t want to live,'" Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said at a press conference on Saturday.
The 19-year-old went back into his home, and when he returned outside, he rushed down the driveway at officers while pointing a loaded nine millimeter handgun with a light attached to it at them. An officer then fatally shot Clements.
“It actually fits the description of suicide by cop. The gentleman obviously had some cognitive issues, has a history, he stated that he wanted to die," Ryder said.
“This officer was forced to shoot David Clements to stop the threat to officers and the public,” the Nassau County Police Department said in a press release. During Saturday's press conference, Ryder said that the police used restraint and followed proper procedure.
The other two weapons were recovered later and found to be BB guns, Ryder said.
A Nassau County Police Department medic pronounced Clements dead on the scene, officials said.
This incident will be investigated by the Nassau County Police Department Homicide Squad in conjunction with the New York State Attorney General’s Office.