8 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 14, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
‘Friendly fi re’ claims life of detective in Richmond Hill
BY ZACHARY GEWELB, MARK
HALLUM AND ROBERT POZARYCKI
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
A 19-year veteran of the NYPD lost his
life on Tuesday night and a fellow offi -
cer suff ered injuries in an apparent case
of friendly fi re while responding to a robbery
at a Richmond Hill cellphone store, it
was reported.
Detective Brian Simonsen, 42, of the
102nd Precinct Detective Squad and a sergeant
with the squad responded to a 911
call about the heist inside the T-Mobile
store located at 91-62 120th St., just aft er
6 p.m. on Feb. 12. Simonsen sustained a
gunshot wound to the chest that proved
fatal; the sergeant was hit in the leg and
is in stable condition at Jamaica Hospital.
During a press conference at Jamaica
Hospital, Police Commissioner James
O’Neill indicated that the incident
“appears to be a tragic case of friendly
fi re,” as offi cers began fi ring on a suspected
robber inside the store who appeared to
be holding a gun and was walking toward
them.
Th e suspect — whom O’Neill described
as a 27-year-old man and a “career criminal”
— was shot multiple times and is now
hospitalized in stable condition. Th e weapon
he held turned out to be an imitation
fi rearm that police recovered at the scene.
Police Commissioner and James O’Neill
address the media at Jamaica Hospital on
Feb. 12. (Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS)
“Make no mistake about it, friendly fi re
aside, it’s because of the actions of the suspect
that Detective Simonsen is dead,”
O’Neill said.
O’Neill and Mayor Bill de Blasio met
with Simonsen’s wife and mother at
Jamaica Hospital. Th e mayor expressed
the remorse of an entire city over the
detective’s loss.
“To go into a situation where people’s
lives are in danger, where there’s someone
with a weapon, our offi cers, our detectives
and our sergeants go in selfl essly to protect
others,” de Blasio said. “Th at bravery and
that resolve is something we all need to
understand, even though most of us have
never experienced that kind of split second
decision-making.”
Detective Brian Simonsen (photo via
Twitter/@NYPDNews)
Th e incident reportedly took place just
aft er 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 at a T-Mobile
store located at Atlantic Avenue and 120th
Street, within the confi nes of the 102nd
Precinct.
Based on preliminary investigation,
O’Neill said, the NYPD received multiple
911 calls about the reported robbery.
One caller claimed that an armed man
had been holding several people inside the
store at gunpoint.
Simonsen and the sergeant, who were in
the area on an unrelated matter, responded
to the 911 calls along with other 102nd
Precinct offi cers. O’Neill said that they
went into the store to get a closer look,
aft er being unable to see anything from
the street.
Upon walking into the store, O’Neill
said, Simonsen and the sergeant spotted
the suspect, who fi t the reported perpetrator’s
description, holding what appeared
to be a handgun. Th e offi cers discharged
their weapons as the suspect advanced
toward them, the commissioner said, and
they retreated from the shop.
Forensic detectives inside the T-Mobile
store (Photo via Facebook/Robert
Stridiron)
When the gunfi re ended, offi cers discovered
that Simonsen had been shot in
the chest. Several cops took Simonsen in
a patrol car to Jamaica Hospital, where he
died a short time later. With the help of
a civilian, the sergeant was also taken to
Jamaica Hospital for treatment.
Th e NYPD warned the public via
Twitter to avoid the scene.
“Due to police activity, please avoid the
area of Atlantic Ave and 120th Street in
Queens,” a tweet from @NYPDnews posted
at 6:31 p.m. read. “Expect a heavy police
presence. Updates to follow.”
Th e investigation remains ongoing.
“Th is is an absolute tragedy,” O’Neill
added. “Th e worst outcome any police
offi cer, or a family of a police offi cer, can
ever imagine.”
$100 OFF $99 $99 $99 $99
DESIGNER FRAMES
PLUS FREE 2ND PAIR
Frames & Lenses
* $200 minimum purchase on first pair of designer
frames. Second pair frame from select group with
vision plans or packages.
* $200 minimum purchase on first pair of designer
frames. Second pair frame from select group with
vision plans or packages.
Offer ends 3/31/1 Offer ends 3/31/1 Offer ends: 3/31/1
������������������������������brand clear sphericalLenses/*Contact
lens fitting additional. Not valid for Toric lenses. Not valid with
Some restrictions apply, see store for details.
Offer ends: 3/31/1
Select frames with clear plastic, single vision lensas
vision plans or packages. Must present prior to purchase.
see store for details
Offer ends: 3/31/1
PRESIDENT'S DAY SALES
2 Boxes of Lenses
Encore Premium Brand
No-Line Bifocals Lenses
with Metal Frame
With the purchase of glasses
(contact lens exam & fitting add'l).
See store for details
Photo by Robert Stridiron
Police outside of the T-Mobile store in Richmond Hill after a detective was shot and killed on Feb. 12 in an apparent episode of friendly fi re.
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
