You are reading

Queens Man Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Prison for His Role in Death of NYPD Detective

iStock

July 8, 2022 By Christian Murray

A Jamaica Queens man was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison Thursday for the 2019 death of Detective Brian Simonsen, a 19-year-veteran of the NYPD.

Jagger Freeman, 28, was found guilty by a jury last month of murder in the second degree and other crimes for his role in a Richmond Hill robbery that led to Simonsen’s death. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder, who presided over the trial, handed down the sentence that also included 5 years post release supervision.

Freeman, who was involved in several robberies in the area, organized the stickup of a T-Mobile store on 120th Street on Feb. 12, 2019, along with his accomplice Christopher Ransom.

The pair arrived at the store shortly after 6 p.m. before Ransom went inside brandishing what appeared to be a black pistol. He ordered two employees to hand over cash and merchandise, according to court records.

Police arrived as Ransom corralled the two employees in the back room of the store. He pointed the pistol — which turned out to be fake — at the arriving officers and the officers fired their guns, according to the charges.

Simonsen, 42, was shot once in the torso by another officer and died. Sergeant Matthew Gorman was also struck by friendly fire in his left leg and has since recovered.

“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,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “The jury found the defendant guilty of murder and he will now serve a lengthy time in prison as punishment for his criminal actions.”

The sentencing, according to Katz, also covers a separate cellphone robbery that Freeman participated in on Feb. 8, 2019

Ransom, meanwhile, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to aggravated manslaughter in the second degree and robbery in the first degree. Ransom is currently serving 33 years in prison.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Rego Park sex offender pleads guilty to charges of sexually exploiting young girls on Long Island: Feds

A convicted sex offender from Rego Park pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and admitted to soliciting and receiving sexually explicit images and videos from four young girls during a plea hearing in the federal courthouse in Central Islip on Friday. Anthony Pangallo, 41, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment and up to 50 years in prison.

According to court filings and statements during the plea proceeding, Pangallo was initially arrested on May 20, 2021, at his Rego Park residence, on state charges filed in Westport, Connecticut. Those charges, which remain pending, involved a 15-year-old victim whom Pangallo met online and manipulated into sending him sexually explicit images of herself.

Queens Together launches ‘Unofficial US Open Dining Guide’ encouraging fans to sample restaurants along the 7 line

Aug. 20, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

The US Open returns to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this Sunday, with more than 1 million attendees anticipated to take mass transit to the iconic annual tennis event. With hundreds of thousands of fans set to take the 7 out to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, there is a world of delicious local eateries lying beneath the elevated train tracks should any fan wish to stop en-route to the US Open.

Can Queens’ food scene thrive with both trucks and restaurants?

Aug. 19, 2025 By Jessica Militello

In Jackson Heights at 4 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon, Roosevelt Avenue is buzzing with energy as commuters file in and out of subway cars and onto the street and cars and trucks grapple to get down the busy road. The street is filled with rows of shops and restaurants, along with food carts, street vendors and food trucks along the avenue. The almost-but-not-quite the weekend lag leaves hungry commuters faced with another choice to make throughout their day and the array of food truck options in busy areas like Jackson Heights offers customers convenience and delicious food without breaking the bank, two features that can feel vital, particularly with rising costs of living and pressure from inflation.