Trial of Kelsey Fitzsimmons, a police officer shot by colleague

Kelsey Fitzsimmons, the North Andover, Massachusetts, police officer who was shot by a colleague while being served a restraining order last summer, took the stand Wednesday in her own defense. The prosecution rested earlier in the morning.On Thursday, the defense is expected to take the case on a viewing of the scene, Fitzsimmons’ former home. Fitzsimmons, 28, who was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, is facing a bench trial in Lawrence District Court. She waived her right to a jury trial, opting for the judge to decide the outcome of the case.She pleaded not guilty after being shot in a June 2025 confrontation with North Andover officers who were attempting to serve her with a restraining order filed by her fiancé. He had alleged that Fitzsimmons threatened him and their newborn child.In opening statements, ADA James Gubitose said Fitzsimmons had a full magazine in her handgun and that she pulled the trigger while pointing it at one of the officers. The only reasons the officer is alive today, Gubitose said, are that there was no bullet in the chamber and because of Officer Patrick Noonan’s training.Video below: Prosecution’s opening statementDefense attorney Tim Bradl argued that Fitzsimmons felt her life was falling apart, estranged from her colleagues and betrayed by her fiancé. In the defense’s version of events, Fitzsimmons had made the decision to end her life using her firearm. Bradl denied that Fitzsimmons pointed the gun at Noonan and said she actually pointed it at her own temple.Video below: Defense’s opening statementOver the first two days of testimony, the prosecution’s witnesses included police officers involved in the incident, investigators who inspected Fitzsimmons’ weapon and her ex-fiancé, Justin Aylaian. Aylaian described making his decision to seek a restraining order against Fitzsimmons and a custody order for their child from a judge. After it was issued, he said police went to serve the order before calling him to the home to retrieve the infant.Lt. Sean Daley and Officer Patrick Noonan were among the officers who served that restraining order. Daley said in his testimony that he heard Noonan calling out, “Kelsey, don’t do it,” before hearing two gunshots. Afterward, he said that Fitzsimmons kept saying, “I’m sorry, I want to die.”Dramatic video shown during Daley’s testimony came from surveillance cameras at Fitzsimmons’ home. Clips showed her mother and the fiancé arriving, and the frantic response after the shooting. The footage is important because there was no body-worn camera footage from the police.The footage showed Aylaian running out of the house through the garage. He testified that he was “screaming for my sister to run” from the home with the baby.Noonan’s testimony included his description of Fitzsimmons lunging behind the door of a bedroom and emerging with a gun. He said she pulled the trigger twice, but it did not fire. Noonan said he shouted at Fitzsimmons while she worked the weapon and that he fired at her when she successfully got a round in the chamber. Under cross-examination on Tuesday, Noonan clarified that his first shot missed, but the second struck her in the torso. A series of other witnesses on Tuesday traced what happened with Fitzsimmons’ weapon, including Officer Steven Corr, who said he found a round in the chamber, and Trooper Michael Bonasoro, who examined the weapon and spoke to the sound a firearm makes when someone attempts to fire without a cartridge in the chamber. Prior to this trial, Fitzsimmons had been ordered by the court not to drink any alcohol or possess any weapons. More recently, Fitzsimmons was given permission to move out of her mother’s home to prepare for what she hopes will be reunification with her child.If you or anyone you know is experiencing a crisis or considering suicide, dial 988 to contact counselors and response teams at the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

LAWRENCE, Mass. —

Kelsey Fitzsimmons, the North Andover, Massachusetts, police officer who was shot by a colleague while being served a restraining order last summer, took the stand Wednesday in her own defense. The prosecution rested earlier in the morning.

On Thursday, the defense is expected to take the case on a viewing of the scene, Fitzsimmons’ former home.

Fitzsimmons, 28, who was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, is facing a bench trial in Lawrence District Court. She waived her right to a jury trial, opting for the judge to decide the outcome of the case.

She pleaded not guilty after being shot in a June 2025 confrontation with North Andover officers who were attempting to serve her with a restraining order filed by her fiancé. He had alleged that Fitzsimmons threatened him and their newborn child.

In opening statements, ADA James Gubitose said Fitzsimmons had a full magazine in her handgun and that she pulled the trigger while pointing it at one of the officers. The only reasons the officer is alive today, Gubitose said, are that there was no bullet in the chamber and because of Officer Patrick Noonan’s training.

Video below: Prosecution’s opening statement

Defense attorney Tim Bradl argued that Fitzsimmons felt her life was falling apart, estranged from her colleagues and betrayed by her fiancé. In the defense’s version of events, Fitzsimmons had made the decision to end her life using her firearm. Bradl denied that Fitzsimmons pointed the gun at Noonan and said she actually pointed it at her own temple.

Video below: Defense’s opening statement

Over the first two days of testimony, the prosecution’s witnesses included police officers involved in the incident, investigators who inspected Fitzsimmons’ weapon and her ex-fiancé, Justin Aylaian.

Aylaian described making his decision to seek a restraining order against Fitzsimmons and a custody order for their child from a judge. After it was issued, he said police went to serve the order before calling him to the home to retrieve the infant.

Lt. Sean Daley and Officer Patrick Noonan were among the officers who served that restraining order. Daley said in his testimony that he heard Noonan calling out, “Kelsey, don’t do it,” before hearing two gunshots. Afterward, he said that Fitzsimmons kept saying, “I’m sorry, I want to die.”

Dramatic video shown during Daley’s testimony came from surveillance cameras at Fitzsimmons’ home. Clips showed her mother and the fiancé arriving, and the frantic response after the shooting. The footage is important because there was no body-worn camera footage from the police.

The footage showed Aylaian running out of the house through the garage. He testified that he was “screaming for my sister to run” from the home with the baby.

Noonan’s testimony included his description of Fitzsimmons lunging behind the door of a bedroom and emerging with a gun. He said she pulled the trigger twice, but it did not fire.

Noonan said he shouted at Fitzsimmons while she worked the weapon and that he fired at her when she successfully got a round in the chamber. Under cross-examination on Tuesday, Noonan clarified that his first shot missed, but the second struck her in the torso.

A series of other witnesses on Tuesday traced what happened with Fitzsimmons’ weapon, including Officer Steven Corr, who said he found a round in the chamber, and Trooper Michael Bonasoro, who examined the weapon and spoke to the sound a firearm makes when someone attempts to fire without a cartridge in the chamber.

Prior to this trial, Fitzsimmons had been ordered by the court not to drink any alcohol or possess any weapons. More recently, Fitzsimmons was given permission to move out of her mother’s home to prepare for what she hopes will be reunification with her child.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing a crisis or considering suicide, dial 988 to contact counselors and response teams at the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.