Man found guilty in 2019 robbery that led to officer’s death

Man found guilty in 2019 robbery that led to officer’s death

Leanne Simonsen, the widow of Det. Brian Simonsen, holds the flag that draped his casket following his funeral at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays, N.Y., Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. Simonsen, with the New York City Police Department, was killed by friendly fire Feb. 12 as he and six other officers opened fire on a robbery suspect who police say was pointing at them what appeared to be a handgun. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury has convicted a man of murder in connection to a 2019 store robbery that led to the death of a New York City police officer hit by crossfire from other officers’ guns. Jagger Freeman faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on June 30. Prosecutors say he and Christopher Ransom set off a chain of events that led to New York Police Department Detective Brian Simonsen being killed in February 2019 after officers responded to a Queens store that was being robbed by the two men. Freeman’s attorney declined to comment.

Photo: Leanne Simonsen, the widow of Det. Brian Simonsen, holds the flag that draped his casket following his funeral at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays, N.Y., Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)