NYPD looks for answers in detective’s death
Probe continues amid mourning over friendly fire loss of 102nd Precinct veteran
BY MARK HALLUM
NYPD officials gave an
update Wednesday afternoon,
20 hours into an investigation
into a case of friendly fire that
left one detective dead and
another injured in the 102nd
Precinct Tuesday night.
The NYPD revealed that
42 rounds were fired when up
to seven officers responded
to a robbery in which the
suspect was wielding an
imitation firearm.
Det. Brian Simonsen and
Sgt. Matt Gorman arrived
at the T-Mobile store located
at 91-62 120th St. when he
and a sergeant were caught
in the crossfire of five other
members of the 102nd Precinct
who arrived moments after the
two plainclothes officers.
An NYPD spokesman said
the 27-year-old suspect was
seen going into the store with
a ski mask and when officers
arrived, the man charged
toward law enforcement
officers. Simonsen fired two
rounds alongside Gorman,
but was struck in the chest
by a fellow officer, according
to the NYPD, and was then
transported in an unmarked
car to Jamaica Hospital.
“At this hour, I will tell
you that this appears to be
an absolute tragic case in
friendly fire,” Commissioner
James O’Neill said at a
press conference at Jamaica
Hospital Tuesday night.
“This is an absolute tragedy.
The worst outcome any police
officer or family of a police
officer could ever imagine.
And the sympathies and
prayers of the entire New York
City Police Department are
with a family and colleagues
of Detective Simonsen
tonight. And I hope that all
New Yorkers understand how
difficult the job that have an
NYPD officer is.”
Gorman is recovering from
a gunshot wound to the leg in
Jamaica Hospital, while the
suspect was in stable condition
at NewYork-Presbyterian
Queens.
All shots were fired in front
of the building, not inside,
according to the NYPD, which
is currently analyzing footage
from five body cameras worn
by officers at the scene to
gain further information
about the events that led to
Simonsen’s death.
Police survery the scene in Richmond Hill, where a 19-year veteran of the NYPD lost his life and a fellow officer suffered injuries in a case
of friendly fire while responding to a robbery at a Richmond Hill cellphone store. Photo by Robert Stridiron
Police Commissioner James O’Neill addresses the media at Jamaica Hospital. Photo by Mark Hallum
Police asked the public
for more information on
the suspect, Christopher
Ransom, 27, who had multiple
misdemeanor convictions
along with impersonating an
officer at the 77th Precinct..
Simonson, who is from
Calverton, Long Island, was
42 years old with 19 years on
the job. He had no children,
but is survived by his wife
and mother, according to
NYPD Chief of Department
Terrence Monahan.
“He was the one that you
called if you had a problem,”
Monahan said on. “He was
a 19-year veteran who spent
his entire career in the 102nd
Precinct. There wasn’t a
person in the 102 who didn’t
know Brian.”
As Simonsen was in
plainclothes at the time –
investigating an unrelated
robbery pattern at the precinct
house – he was not wearing
a protective vest when he
responded to the call that
would be his last, NYPD said.
“We lost a very good man
— Detective Brian Simonsen,
19 years on the job protecting
the people of this city. And
Commissioner O’Neill and I
just spent time with Detective
Simonsen’s family and it was
heartbreaking, absolutely
heartbreaking. His mom,
who has suffered so much, his
wife – the shock that they’re
feeling was so painful to see,”
de Blasio said. “I want to just
note how difficult it is for our
men and women in uniform to
go into a situation like this one
– the Commissioner will go
over the details – but to go into
a situation where people’s lives
are in danger, where there is
someone with a weapon ready
to recklessly use it at any
moment, and our officers, our
detectives, our sergeants go in
selflessly to protect others and
they know it’s a moment where
they cannot hesitate, where
even a moment of hesitation
could mean a life is lost.”
A procession followed the
Tuesday night press conference
announcing preliminary
details of Simonsen’s death,
and procession was held as an
ambulance transported his
remains in an ambulance.
Hundreds of police officers,
both from the NYPD and state
police, lined 135th Street
behind Jamaica Hospital in
salute to Simonsen, who spent
his entire law enforcement
career at the 102nd Precinct.
Reach reporter Mark
Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4564.
TIMESLEDGER,8 FEB. 15-21, 2019 TIMESLEDGER.COM
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