Former North Andover police officer, Kelsey Fitzsimmons, is standing a bench trial on charges related to the shooting of a fellow officer in her home on June 30, 2025. The 29-year-old mother has been charged with a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon, which she had pleaded not guilty to.

Cop on Cop Crime

Fitzsimmons recently waived her right to a jury trial, allowing the judge to decide her fate. She has already spent more than 100 days in jail and is facing years more if convicted. She alleges that she was suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) at the time of the incident and was planning to use the gun on herself when she was shot in the chest by her fellow officer.

On June 30, 2025, a North Andover police officer showed up to Fitzsimmons’ home to serve her with a restraining order from her ex-fiancé. The officer alleges that Fitzsimmons had pulled out her gun, and prosecutors say she was planning to shoot the serving officer.

Trial Begins

Trial in the case of Fitzsimmons v. The state of Massachusetts began on Monday, March 23, 2026. The prosecution delivered their opening statements, saying Fitzsimmons raised her gun at the officer and pulled the trigger. They claim he is only alive today because there were no rounds in the chamber.

Prosecutors argue that the officer rightfully shot Fitzsimmons as a means of self-defense and protection of everyone else in the home.

Tim Bradl, Fitzsimmons’ defense attorney, delivered opening statements after the prosecution concluded, saying that the then-new mother was being served with a restraining order with untested allegations while she was severely suffering mentally. Her child was taken away from her, meaning her entire world had changed.

Responding Officers Clarify

The three officers who were at her house that day served the order and took the child, leaving Fitzsimmons embarrassed, according to the defense. She decided at that moment there was no point in living any longer, so she raised the gun to her head while the officers were in a separate room. Defense argues that the officer involved created a story to protect himself.

Two North Andover Officers testified, Sean Daley and Patrick Noonan, testified that they were in the home that day. Daley heard an officer say, “Kelsey, don’t do it,” before he ran up the stairs from the basement. He saw Fitzsimmons lying on the ground, saying,  “I’m sorry” and “I want to die.” 

When she was taken away for her injuries, Noonan reported that she pointed a gun at him.

Noonan was the officer who shot and injured Fitzsimmons in her home. He acknowledged there would be a child in the house and several guns. He noted the defendant had parked her car further away from the house, and when they arrived, he explained the restraining order and that he had to remove the guns and the child.

Fitzsimmons cooperated, pointing out where the guns were, and she went upstairs to get clothes for her baby. She was visibly upset while wrapping up clothes. According to Noonan, she lunged behind the door frame and came back with a gun in her hand, pointing it at him before pulling the trigger. He screamed her name, and while she backpedaled to put a round in the chamber, he shot at her twice, hitting her once in the chest.

Defense Questions Patrick Noonan

Bradl asked Noonan on the stand if he was aware that it is “prohibited for someone to use deadly force on someone who is only exhibiting harm to themselves?” Defense strongly argues that Fitzsimmons claims that she was battling severe depression and was ready to end it all. 

“Absolutely,” Noonan responded, then prompting Bradl to ask why Noonan used his gun instead of his taser.

“We meet deadly force with deadly force,” Noonan said.

However, Noonan told the judge, “I think I was standing in her way for her to get downstairs and kill Justin,” even though she had told the other officer she did not want him in the home and to escort him away. 

Noonan also admitted during the second day of trial, when he was called back to the stand, that he called Fitzsimmons, a struggling mother, after the incident, a “whack job.”

Ex-fiancé Testifies

Justin Aylaian, Fitzsimmons’ Ex-fiancé, testified to their relationship. He met her in September 2023, and they moved in together after six months. They had their child, but their relationship became strained, leading to him filing a restraining order. 

He was concerned with his son’s well-being in her home because of the disturbing text messages she sent, so he had an order served and took the nine guns he owned from her home. 

Forensic Evidence is Crucial

Several officers were involved with serving the restraining order that day, including Officer Steven Corr and Timothy Houston, who corroborated both the prosecution and the defense’s statements.

This case is proving to be a he-said-she-said incident, and it will all come down to forensic evidence and ballistics from the shooting and the firearm used in the case, which Detective Lieutenant Michael Bonasoro went over on Tuesday.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.