On a Tuesday evening in February 2019, 42-year-old NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen was killed by friendly fire while responding to a reported armed robbery at a T-Mobile store in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. A 19-year veteran and his precinct’s union delegate, Simonsen had returned to duty that day to investigate a pattern of local robberies.

The robber, Christopher Ransom, entered the store armed with what appeared to be a handgun while an accomplice, Jagger Freeman, acted as a lookout. When officers arrived, Ransom pointed the weapon at them and seven officers fired a total of 42 rounds. Simonsen was struck once in the chest and later died at a hospital; his partner, Sergeant Matthew Gorman, was shot in the leg and survived. Ransom was also hit multiple times; the weapon used was later determined to be an imitation firearm.

Both Ransom and Freeman were arrested and faced multiple charges. If anyone knew Detective Simonsen, his partner, or observed the scene that night, please share what might help clarify the events.