Dozens of NYPD officers packed a Queens courtroom as two men charged in the death of Det. Brian Simonsen faced a judge. Ray Villeda reports.
What to Know
- A man charged in the friendly fire death of a New York City police officer says the shooting stemmed from a "prank gone horribly wrong"
- Simonsen was shot in the chest as he and six other officers opened fire on Christopher Ransom during a robbery at a T-Mobile store in Queens
- Police say Ransom was pointing a fake handgun. His accomplice, 25-year-old Jagger Freeman, is accused of being his lookout
A man charged in the friendly fire death of a New York City police officer says the shooting stemmed from a "prank gone horribly wrong."
Christopher Ransom told the New York Daily News in an interview published Friday that he only meant to carry out a phony holdup of a T-Mobile store in Queens.
He said he carried a fake gun and that a friend videotaped the stunt.
Ransom said he returned the workers' money but police were already responding and opened fire. The shooting claimed the life of Det. Brian Simonsen and wounded Sgt. Matthew Gorman.
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He told the newspaper that he was not a "monster" and that he didn't anticipate what happened.
Ransom faces murder and other charges in Simonsen's death.
