Judge Issues Verdict In Case Of Ex-North Andover Police Officer Fitzsimmons

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Kelsey Fitzsimmons, a former North Andover police officer, has been found not guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Fitzsimmons had waived her right to a jury trial, choosing to take her case to a judge instead. The ruling was made by Judge Jeffrey Karp of Essex County Superior Court, who announced the not guilty verdict shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday.

Fitzsimmons was shot by another officer while being served a restraining order last summer.

Police had gone to her home to serve her with a restraining order from her then-fiancé, Justin Aylaian, and to give him temporary custody of their four-month-old son, according to CBS Boston.

Officer Pat Noonan testified Monday that he shot Fitzsimmons during the incident at her home on June 30, 2025, according to CBS Boston. Fitzsimmons was accused of pulling her service gun and pointing it at Noonan.

Noonan testified that Fitzsimmons aimed the gun at him and fired, but there was no bullet in the the chamber, WHDH 7-News reported. Noonan said she re-racked the gun and he shot her in the chest.

However, Fitzsimmons denied this, saying she intended to use the gun on herself in the midst of a mental health crisis. She pleaded not guilty and said she never pointed the gun at police.

Fitzsimmons took the stand in her own defense Wednesday. She said she wanted to take her own life when she saw her child was being taken.

"I lost everything," Fitzsimmons testified. "Even my doggie was on the restraining order."

Defense attorney Timothy Bradl said in his closing arguments Thursday that Fitzsimmons' "whole world imploded" that day when "her fiancé betrayed her," and she realized she was going to lose her baby and her house.

"There was an incredible confluence of tragedy that was visited upon her that day" which caused her to try to take her life, Bradl said.

Bradl said that the gun was "nowhere near" Noonan and was "already pointed at her head" when he entered the bedroom.

But Assistant District Attorney James Gubitose said in closing arguments that the way Fitzsimmons claimed the shooting happened was "impossible."

"Every piece of credible evidence points to the inescapable fact that she is guilty," the prosecutor said.

Gubitose said that Noonan's extensive training kicked in that day, that he never left Fitzsimmons alone, and that he was "cool, calm, and collected."