Judge Acquits Officer Fitzsimmons in Assault Case

Former Massachusetts police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 29, was acquitted of assault charges after testifying she attempted to shoot herself during an incident involving colleagues serving a restraining order from her fiancé. According to multiple reports, Fitzsimmons claimed she never intended to harm anyone else but was experiencing a mental health crisis and feared losing custody of her four-month-old son.

Fitzsimmons faced one charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the June 2025 incident. According to CBS News, she was shot by fellow North Andover officer Pat Noonan as police entered her home to serve her with a restraining order from her then-fiancé, Justin Aylaian.

Prosecutors alleged that Fitzsimmons pointed her service weapon at Noonan and pulled the trigger during a confrontation at her home. However, Fitzsimmons' defense attorney Timothy Bradl argued that she was pointing the gun at herself in a suicide attempt. According to Fox News, Bradl painted a picture of Fitzsimmons struggling with postpartum depression and being suicidal.

The trial was decided by Lawrence Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Karp without a jury, with closing statements occurring on Thursday morning. The judge deliberated for nearly four hours before delivering his verdict. According to Fox News, Fitzsimmons spent weeks in the hospital with a collapsed lung and was later charged with assault.

Judge Karp stated that he found no evidence of a conspiracy and expressed reasonable doubt about the prosecution's case. 'I am left with a reasonable doubt, and I am duty-bound to find that the Commonwealth has not met its burden to prove that Ms. Fitzsimmons committed an assault by means of a dangerous weapon,' Karp said, according to Fox News. The judge praised the actions of Officer Noonan and other officers involved in the incident.

The verdict was reached after less than two hours of deliberation by Judge Karp. He decided the verdict alone because Fitzsimmons chose to have no jury for this trial. According to CBS News, Karp found testimony from both officers Noonan and Fitzsimmons to be credible, which he called 'unusual and somewhat perplexing.' The judge also noted that the case would have been much simpler to prove if police were wearing body cameras.

Fitzsimmons spoke about the verdict outside of court. She said she would not comment on whether she plans on returning to the police force. 'I got shot. I went to jail for 103 days. I haven't seen my son. I had to sell my home that I worked very hard for. So this is my first breath of fresh air and I feel like I can breathe again,' Fitzsimmons said, according to CBS News. 'However, my fight is not over. I have a son that I need to reunite with, and that's where we're at right now.'

In a statement, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said they disagreed with the judge's verdict. 'The indictment against Kelsey Fitzsimmons was brought in good faith, supported by credible police testimony, and corroborated by the physical evidence. While respecting the Judge's verdict, we disagree,' Tucker said in a statement.

Closing arguments in the bench trial were held earlier Thursday. The defense argued that Noonan had motive to change his story because he used excessive force. The prosecution tried to show the judge that Fitzsimmons lied while on the stand.