Funeral arrangements have been announced for New York City Police Department Det. Brian Simonsen, who was killed by friendly fire while responding to a robbery attempt at a T-Mobile store located in Richmond Hill, Queens.
Simonsen, 42, spent 19 years at the 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill. A growing memorial has been made outside of the precinct.
On Tuesday, February 12, Simonsen and his partner, Sgt. Matthew Gorman, were responding to a call about an armed robbery attempt at the T-Mobile store located at Atlantic Avenue and 120th Street in Richmond Hill. Both detectives were conducting an investigation about a separate case in the area, prior to receiving the call about the T-Mobile store being robbed.
Authorities say the suspect, 27-year-old Christopher Ransom pointed a fake gun while approaching the officers and the two detectives. The responding officers fired a total of 42 rounds in 11 seconds in the direction of Ransom. Simonsen was fatally shot in the chest during the gunfire. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Simonsen was not wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the incident. Gorman was shot in the leg and required surgery. He is expected to survive. Ransom was shot multiple times and taken to a hospital. He is now in custody.
According to NY1 News, Simonsen fired two shots, while his partner Sgt. Gorman fired 11 times. The NYPD is investigating.
Police Commissioner James O’Neill called the incident “an absolutely tragic case of friendly fire.”
Ransom, who authorities are calling a career criminal because of multiple arrests, was charged with murder even though he was carrying a fake weapon that did not fatally shoot Det. Simonsen.
Simonsen’s body was transported to a funeral home in Mattituck, Long Island.
Funeral arrangements for Det. Simonsen
Services for Det. Simonsen will start with a wake from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. Additional services will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
His funeral will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church in Hampton Bays, New York.
The funeral home’s website has a message board where visitors can leave a note of sympathy.
