Suspects in alleged robbery that led to NYPD friendly fire death charged in court
QUEENS (WABC) -- The two suspects arrested in connection with the death of an NYPD detective in Queens were officially charged in court Monday.
Christopher Ransom, 27, and Jagger Freeman, 25, are both facing charges of murder, assault, robbery and other crimes following the alleged February robbery of a T-Mobile store that police say led to the friendly-fire death of Detective Brian Simonsen.
WATCH: Jagger Freeman being led out of the police precinct with fallen Detective Brian Simonsen's handcuffs:
"This was a tragic incident that should have never happened," Chief Assistant District Attorney John M. Ryan said. "The two defendants were allegedly on a robbery-spree - hitting cell phone stores - but this time the heist went awry and two veteran police officers were shot. One defendant allegedly served as a look-out, and the other is accused of holding up the store workers with a fake handgun. The police, doing what they do every day without hesitation, responded to the scene. One of the defendants allegedly ran at and pointed his fake gun at the police, and the responding officers fired. Detective Brian Simonsen was killed, and Sergeant Matthew Gorman was seriously injured."
Ransom, who was shot during the alleged robbery and is still hospitalized, and Freeman were remanded and ordered to return to court on May 15.
Ransom and Freeman are both charged with second-degree murder, first- and second-degree robbery, second-degree assault, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Ransom is additionally charged with second-degree aggravated manslaughter.
If convicted, both men face up to 50 years to life in prison.
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