NYPD: Officers fired 42 times in shooting that killed detective from LI

"Shots fired!" can be heard multiple times in a chilling radio transmission capturing the moment 42 shots were fired by officers in 11 seconds. The hail of bullets left NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen dead.

News 12 Staff

Feb 13, 2019, 10:27 PM

Updated 1,897 days ago

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The NYPD has vowed a full review of the friendly fire shooting that killed a detective and wounded a sergeant from Long Island.
"Shots fired!" can be heard multiple times in a chilling radio transmission capturing the moment 42 shots were fired by officers in 11 seconds. The hail of bullets left NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen dead.
Officials say Simonsen and Sgt. Matthew Gorman were investigating a separate case when a call came in for an armed robbery at a T-Mobile store in Queens. Six uniformed officers were also at the scene. Investigators say they were confronted by the suspect when they entered the store.
NYPD officials say the suspect, 27-year-old Christopher Ransom, was holding a gun and simulated firing at the officers. They say the weapon turned out to be fake.
Simonsen, a 19-year NYPD veteran and Calverton native, was struck once in the chest by a bullet.
Police announced Wednesday night that Ransom is facing murder, robbery, assault, aggravated manslaughter and menacing charges.
"This is an absolute tragedy," NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill said at a news conference Tuesday night. "The worst outcome any police officer or family of a police officer could ever imagine."
Gorman, of Seaford, was hit in the leg and is expected to recover. The 34-year-old has been on the job nearly nine years.
Police say Ransom is a career criminal with a long rap sheet that includes charges of impersonating an officer.
It's not known at this point who fired the bullet that killed Simonsen, but NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan made it clear that the responsibility falls solely on the suspect.
"This scene is caused by a man charging at police officers," Monahan says. "The blame goes to that individual for doing that."
Monahan also said Simonsen "was the definition of a cop's cop."
Gorman continues to recover at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens. Officials say he's overcome with grief over the loss of his partner and friend.
Viewings for Simonsen have been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday and a service will be held next Wednesday.


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