Press Release
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON AFTER GUILTY CONVICTION IN DEATH OF NYPD DETECTIVE BRIAN SIMONSEN AND FELONY ASSAULT AGAINST A SECOND POLICE OFFICER DURING BOTCHED ROBBERY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jagger Freeman, 28, has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison following a trial conviction of murder, robbery, assault and other crimes for directing the February 2019 cell phone store robbery that resulted in the death of New York City Police Detective Brian Simonsen. A second officer was also wounded when police responded to the scene and multiple rounds were fired.
District Attorney Katz said, “The defendant orchestrated a string of robberies, the last of which involved an imitation weapon and led to the tragic loss of Detective Brian Simonsen and the wounding of Sergeant Matthew Gorman. The jury found the defendant guilty of murder and he will now serve a lengthy time in prison as punishment for his criminal actions. We continue to express our condolences to Detective Simonsen’s family and fellow service members.”
Freeman, of Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, was found guilty of murder in the second degree, multiple counts of robbery in the first and second degree, assault in the second degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree on June 13, 2022. A jury rendered its verdict after five days of deliberations. Today, Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder, who presided at trial, sentenced the defendant to 30 years to life in prison to be followed by 5 years post release supervision.
The sentencing includes the conviction for robbery in the second degree and grand larceny in the third degree related to Freeman’s participation in a separate cell phone store robbery on February 8, 2019.
Freeman’s co-defendant, Christopher Ransom, 30, formerly of St. John’s Place in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in October 2021, to aggravated manslaughter in the second degree and robbery in the first degree before Justice Holder. Ransom is currently serving 33 years in prison, to be followed by five years’ post release supervision.
According to Court records, on February 12, 2019, Ransom and Freeman arrived at the T-Mobile store on 120th Street in Richmond Hill, Queens, shortly after 6 p.m. Defendant Ransom entered the cell phone business brandishing a black pistol. Ransom ordered two employees inside the establishment to surrender both cash and merchandise from the back room of the store. Ransom was still inside the business when police officers responded to the scene. Ransom pointed his gun – which appeared real – at the police officers, who discharged their weapons in response.
Detective Brian Simonsen, a 19-year-veteran of the NYPD was fatally shot once in the chest. He was 42 years old. Sergeant Matthew Gorman was seriously injured with a bullet wound to his left leg.
Assistant District Attorney Shawn Clark, Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau, prosecuted the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Christina Mavrikis, under the supervision Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.