A funeral is being held on Long Island on Wednesday for fallen NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen.
Simonsen was killed in a friendly fire shooting last week in Queens while responding to a robbery at a T-Mobile store. He was shot in the chest and later pronounced dead as officers fired 42 shots at the suspect.
“Make no mistake about it, friendly fire aside, it’s because of the actions of the suspect that Detective Simonsen is dead,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said on the night of the shooting.
The funeral is being held at Saint Rosalie’s Roman Catholic Church in Hampton Bays. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neill will be among those on hand.
The shooting happened after 27-year-old suspect allegedly advanced towards officers with a fake gun. Ransom and a second suspect are now facing murder and other charges.
O’Neill described Ransom as a “career criminal.”
Detective Simonsen was a 19-year veteran of the NYPD.He spent his entire career at the 102nd precinct in Queens.