A Massachusetts police officer was shot Monday evening during an armed confrontation at her home as fellow officers attempted to serve her with a restraining order stemming from disturbing allegations involving her infant child, according to law enforcement officials and court records.
Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 28, who was employed by the Andover Police Department, was shot once in the chest and transported by helicopter to a Boston hospital.
As of Thursday, she remains in stable condition, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker.
The incident occurred while officers were delivering an abuse prevention order filed by Fitzsimmons’ fiancé, a North Andover firefighter and the father of her 4-month-old son.
Tucker confirmed the shooting and described the incident as an “armed confrontation” but did not disclose whether Fitzsimmons was in possession of a weapon at the time or what specifically triggered the use of force.
Fitzsimmons was reportedly off-duty and on administrative leave when the incident occurred.
Court records show Fitzsimmons’ fiancé expressed serious concerns for their infant son’s safety.
“I fear she will kill the baby at any moment,” he wrote in the affidavit, according to the New York Post. “Kelsey is threatening to take the baby ‘far, far, far away for a long, long time.’”
“This is how she has spoken about killing herself in the past.”
The documents allege that Fitzsimmons displayed suicidal and violent behavior both during and after pregnancy.
The fiancé recounted that while pregnant, she punched herself in the stomach while making threats to kill herself and the unborn child.
He also referenced a June 28 incident where, during a gathering with friends, Fitzsimmons allegedly punched him in the face three times and, in a rage, chased him and their child after he sought safety at a friend’s house.
“I fear if she doesn’t have me she will kill the baby because she has said she has nothing besides me,” he added. “Fitzsimmons is a danger to myself, her son and herself.”
During that incident, the friend group reportedly contacted four separate police departments.
Ultimately, Fitzsimmons’ parents arrived and assumed custody of the child. The restraining order was filed shortly after.
Fitzsimmons gave birth to the couple’s child on Feb. 16.
Less than a month later, she was involuntarily committed to Lowell General Hospital for a 12-hour hold under state mental health laws, citing postpartum depression and related concerns.
She was discharged on March 10 and subsequently surrendered her department-issued firearm as well as at least one personal weapon.
Her license to carry firearms was suspended, and she was placed on administrative leave by the Andover Police Department on April 30.
Her attorney later said Fitzsimmons was actively undergoing therapy and receiving psychiatric care.
On June 18, the department cleared her to return to work and reinstated her license to carry.
Fitzsimmons submitted paperwork to have her service weapon returned, though it has not been confirmed whether she had received the firearm prior to the confrontation, The Post reports.
At the time of the incident, she was still officially on administrative leave.
Fitzsimmons had been with the Andover Police Department for less than two years. No charges have been filed in the shooting, which remains under investigation.
Her fiancé has since petitioned the court for full legal custody of their infant son.
