Jagger Freeman Convicted of Murder of NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen

Adam Devine

NEW YORK, NY – The man who shot and killed New York City Police Detective Brian Simonsen has been convicted of murder, robbery, and assault.  Jagger Freeman, 28, was involved in an armed robbery of a cell phone shop in 2019 that led to the eventual death of Detective Simonsen.

A second police officer was also wounded when uniformed police responded to the scene and multiple rounds were fired.

Queens District Attorney Katz said, “The jury has spoken. The defendant’s actions set in motion a terrible chain of events that began with an armed robbery in progress and resulted in the tragic loss of Detective Brian Simonsen as well as Sergeant Matthew Gorman being shot in the leg. Following an eight-week-long trial, a jury found the defendant guilty of murder. We express our condolences to Detective Simonsen’s family and hope today’s verdict brings them a measure of closure.”

According to court records, Freeman, of Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, was found guilty of murder in the second degree, robbery in the first and second degree, assault in the second degree and grand larceny in the third and fourth degree.


The jury rendered its verdict after five days of deliberations. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder, who presided at trial set sentencing for June 30, 2022. At that time, Freeman faces up to 40 years-to-life in prison.


Freeman’s co-defendant, Christopher Ransom, 30, formerly of St. John’s Place in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in October 2021, to aggravated manslaughter in the second degree and robbery in the first degree before Justice Holder. Ransom is currently serving 33 years in prison, to be followed by five years’ post release supervision,” Katz reported.

According to Court records, “On February 12, 2019, Ransom and Freeman arrived at the T-Mobile store on 120th Street in Richmond Hill, Queens, shortly after 6 p.m. Defendant Ransom entered the cell phone business brandishing a black pistol. Ransom ordered two employees inside the establishment to surrender both cash and merchandise from the back room of the store. Ransom was still inside the business when police officers responded to the scene. Ransom pointed his gun – which appeared real – at the police officers, who discharged their weapons in response.”

Today’s conviction included robbery in the second and grand larceny in the third degree related to Freeman’s participation in a separate cell phone store robbery on February 8, 2019.

Detective Brian Simonsen, a 19-year-veteran of the NYPD was fatally shot once in the torso. He was 42 years old. Sergeant Matthew Gorman was seriously injured with a bullet wound to his left leg.

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