‘Absolutely tragic’: NYPD detective killed by friendly fire while responding to robbery
By Tina Moore, Larry Celona and Joe Marino
New York Post
February 12, 2019
An NYPD detective was killed and a fellow officer wounded by friendly fire as they responded to the scene of a robbery in Queens on Tuesday night, cops said.
Detective Brian Simonsen, 42, a 19-year veteran, was fatally shot by a fellow officer in a ¬T-Mobile store at Atlantic Avenue and 121st Street in Richmond Hill at about 6 p.m.
Sgt. Matthew Gorman was struck in the leg, cops said.
The suspected robber, Christopher Ransom, 27, was brandishing an imitation firearm and was shot by police.
“At this hour, I will tell you that this appears to be an absolutely tragic case of friendly fire,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said at a press conference.
“Make no mistake about it, friendly fire aside, it is because of the actions of the suspect that Detective Simonsen is dead.”
Ransom, who has a lengthy rap sheet, had been suspected in a series of area robberies, sources said.
He was in serious condition Tuesday night at NewYork Presbyterian/Queens hospital.
Simonsen and Gorman entered the store and saw Ransom in the back pointing what turned out to be a fake gun at them, O’Neill said.
As the cops turned to retreat to safety, they were shot by other responding officers.
A police source said eight officers fired a total of 40 rounds.
Simonsen was hit in the chest and was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in an NYPD squad car, O’Neill said.
A civilian driver pulled over when he saw what was going on and rushed Gorman to the same hospital.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said both he and O’Neill had met with Simonsen’s wife and mother.
“This is a very difficult and painful night for our city. We lost a very good man,” de Blasio said.
“Commissioner O’Neill and I just spent time with Detective Simonsen’s family. And it was heartbreaking, just heartbreaking. The shock that they’re feeling is so painful to see.
“And we told the Simonsen family that the New York City Police Department will be with them. New York City will be with them. As long as they live, we will support them. And it’s some small comfort to them in this moment of agony.
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Robbery Suspect Held On Murder Charge After Police Officer Killed By Friendly Fire
LAPPL News Watch
February 14, 2019
A man accused of attempting to rob a New York cell phone store where a police detective was killed in a friendly fire incident will face a second-degree murder charge, police said Wednesday night.
Christopher Ransom, 27, is accused of murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, assault, second-degree aggravated manslaughter and menacing, according to an update from the New York Police Department's press information group.
Ransom was wounded in the shooting Tuesday night and an "imitation pistol" was recovered, police said. Police said he is in custody, but didn't say whether he was still hospitalized.
An investigation will determine who shot the detective, but authorities earlier put the blame on Ransom for putting officers in jeopardy.
2 comments:
When I last worked in Harris County, part of your operational plan was to call a number with the DA's office to let them know a U/C operation was happening at a location. You were also told of any other police action that was happening in the vicinity.
AT one time this was so common in NY they developed a whole training program to try to deal with it. At that time of course most of the cops who were shot were black and off duty responding to an incident.
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