Second suspect charged in fatal shooting of NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen
A second suspect in the alleged robbery attempt that left an NYPD detective dead and another cop injured was charged with felony murder and a dozen other charges Sunday in Queens Criminal Court.
Dozens of New York police officers were in the courtroom during Sunday’s arraignment as Supreme Court Justice Guy Mitchell ordered Jagger Freeman, 25, of Queens, held without bail.
Defense attorney Jonathan Latimer told the court his client was innocent.
Police said Freeman acted as a lookout during Tuesday’s alleged attempted robbery of a Richmond Hill T-Mobile store that led to the friendly fire death of Det. Brian Simonsen, 42, of Calverton. Simonsen was a 19-year NYPD veteran.
Simonsen’s boss, Sgt. Matthew Gorman, who was shot in the left leg, returned to his Seaford home Thursday after spending nearly two days in a hospital.
A Brooklyn man, Christopher Ransom, 27, faces felony murder and other charges in the alleged attempted robbery and the subsequent shootings. Investigators were looking for texts and other electronic communications linking the pair to other holdups.
Police say Ransom wielded a realistic-looking toy gun in the stickup of the T-Mobile store, aiming it at responding NYPD officers — including Simonsen and Gorman — who then fired 42 shots in 11 seconds. Ransom, hit eight times, was arraigned via video teleconference from his hospital bed on Friday. He was ordered held without bail.
NYPD Det. Nicholas Perez, partner of fallen Det. Brian Simonsen, during a prayer service Sunday at the 102nd Precinct station house in Richmond Hill with his daughters Kheyla, 11, left, and Nikole, 14. The daughters sang "The Wind Beneath my Wings." Credit: James Carbone
Gorman and two uniformed officers entered the Atlantic Avenue store about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday and saw Ransom holding what appeared to be a handgun, the NYPD said. Ransom advanced on the officers, who fired at him as they retreated to the street. Simonsen was shot in the chest as he stood outside the store, and Gorman in the left leg — both by other cops who had responded to the scene. Commissioner James P. O’Neill said it was “an absolutely tragic case of friendly fire.”
O’Neill said the NYPD has initiated an internal review of the shootings.
Services for Simonsen include a wake Monday and Tuesday, and a funeral Wednesday. All services will be at Church of St. Rosalie, a Roman Catholic parish in Hampton Bays.
'A spark for them to escalate the fighting' A standoff between officials has stalled progress, eroded community patience and escalated the price tag for taxpayers. Newsday investigative editor Paul LaRocco and NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie report.
'A spark for them to escalate the fighting' A standoff between officials has stalled progress, eroded community patience and escalated the price tag for taxpayers. Newsday investigative editor Paul LaRocco and NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie report.
