Police Officer’s Assault Trial Takes Dramatic Turn
A prosecutor in Massachusetts made a bold move during the trial of a disgraced police officer, directly accusing her of dishonesty in court. This came as North Andover officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons claimed she never trained another officer on the use of a handgun.
Prosecutor James Gbitose challenged Fitzsimmons’ testimony, asserting it was false. To emphasize his point, he even pointed an unloaded gun at the front of the courtroom and pulled the trigger, creating a notable “click” sound.
Gbitose suggested that Fitzsimmons, 29, had attempted to shoot her colleague, Officer Patrick Noonan, although he claimed that the attempt was thwarted by a jammed weapon.
This incident unfolded at Fitzsimmons’ home on June 30, 2025, when Noonan, along with two other officers, responded to an emergency restraining order. The order was issued by Fitzsimmons’ fiancé, who had temporarily taken her four-month-old son and their dog.
During the trial, Gbitose accused Fitzsimmons of lying under oath when she stated that she had not “tap-racked” the gun. He further alleged that a bullet had actually entered the room, implying she aimed it at Noonan.
When authorities responded to the scene, they discovered a bullet in the chamber of Fitzsimmons’ firearm after unloading it into a box. Gbitose disputed Fitzsimmons’ claims about how the gun became jammed, asserting that his evidence confirmed her dishonesty. A photo showing disassembled components of the gun was presented during his argument.
“She put a bullet in that room,” said Gbitose. “That was the only way it got there. She lied to you on that stand.”
On the other hand, defense attorney Timothy Bradl criticized Noonan’s recounting of events as dramatic and inconsistent, dubbing it “sloppy.” He argued that it was evident Fitzsimmons might have been considering suicide and had no intention of hurting anyone else. Bradl suggested that Noonan had breached protocol by shooting Fitzsimmons, who, in his view, was in a crisis and needed help.
Instead of a jury, the case is being decided by Judge Jeffrey Karp, who will determine whether Fitzsimmons is guilty of assault with a deadly weapon.
