NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — New surveillance video shown in court captures the moments after shots were fired at former North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons is charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon after police say she pointed a gun at officers who were serving a restraining order at her North Andover home last summer.
Officer Patrick Noonan opened fire, striking her once in the chest.
Her trial began Monday in Essex County Superior Court in Lawrence and is expected to conclude on Friday.
[ Watch live: Trial begins for former North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons ]
Defense attorneys argue Fitzsimmons never aimed her weapon at officers and was instead experiencing a mental health crisis, struggling with severe postpartum depression.
They say she intended to harm herself, not others, after learning her fiancé, Justin Aylaian, had filed a restraining order against her. Her defense team says she felt her life was over.
Fitzsimmons waived her right to a jury trial, meaning a judge alone will decide the verdict after testimony and evidence are presented.
Video shown in court depicts moments before and after the shooting, when three officers — Lt. Sean Daley, Officer Patrick Noonan, and Officer Timothy Houston — arrived at her home to serve the order.
North Andover Police Department do not have body warn cameras, so the actual shooting was not captured on video.
Lt. Sean Daley was the first to testify Monday. He told the court he heard Officer Noonan, who was upstairs with Fitzsimmons, shout, “Kelsey, don’t do it,” before hearing gunfire. Officers had been escorting her through the home as she packed items for her child.
Her fiancé and his sister also arrived at the home to take the baby, as seen in the surveillance footage.
Daley testified that he had called Aylaian to pick up their son after Aylaian initially went to the police station with the court-issued restraining order.
During cross-examination, the defense questioned Daley about asking Aylaian to come to the house, citing Aylaian’s concerns that he feared Fitzsimmons might harm their child.
Surveillance footage also shows Aylaian dropping items in the basement he intended to bring with him before running from the home, while Fitzsimmons’ mother — who was also present — called after him.
Additional video shows officers moving in and out of the home before taking Fitzsimmons outside and rushing her to the hospital.
Daley testified that he heard Fitzsimmons say, “I’m sorry, I want to die,” as officers provided medical aid.
Aylaian told the court Monday that he “feared for his life and his son’s life,” explaining why he sought the restraining order and ran from the scene.
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