@meghannmcuniff: The judge who acquitted a Massachusetts police officer of assault today said he found both her and the officer who shot her to be credible on the witness stand. Kelsey Fitzsimmons was not on duty on June 30, 2025, when Officer Pat Noonan of the North Andover Police Department shot her while serving her with her boyfriend's restraining order, which required her to give him temporary custody of their baby son. Fitzsimmons was charged with assault after Noonan said she pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger. Judge Jeffrey T. Karp in Essex County Superior Court acquitted her today (Thursday, March 26) after a bench trial. "What has made my job especially difficult in this case is that by and large, I found the testimony of Officer Noonan and Ms. Fitzsimmons to be credible on the material and relevant points. In my experience, this is unusual and somewhat perplexing. On the one hand, Ms. Fitzsimmons credibly testified that she never pointed a firearm at Officer Noonan," Karp said. "On the other hand, Officer Noonan testified that not only did Ms. Fitzsimmons point a gun at him, that she also pulled the trigger." "Both agree that it happened in seconds near a narrow doorway and the crime scene photos show that the door frame was made narrower by a clothes rack containing police uniforms that was to Officer Noonan's left, the door frame was also made strike that the door frame was made still narrower when Officer Noonan used it to take cover when he drew his firearm during the closing argument." "The Commonwealth argued that it is scientifically and physically impossible for Ms. Fitzsimmons' story to be true because there was a bullet in the chamber, and she said that officer Noonan shot her without ever having racked without her ever racking the slide after pulling the trigger." "The Commonwealth argued that it is scientifically and physically impossible for Ms. Fitzsimmons' story to be true because there was a bullet in the chamber, and she said that Officer Noonan shot her without ever having racked without her ever racking the slide after pulling the trigger." "Perhaps the Commonwealth could have easily met its burden if the officers had been wearing body cameras. But under these circumstances, 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 on Officer Noonan, and my verdict is and must be, not guilty." You can watch more here @Meghann Cuniff. #law #police #thinblueline

TeaMac :

This judge didn’t just give a verdict he explained why his verdict was the way that it was. Which I appreciate.

It me :

I believe the lady

joyousstarr :

since she’s not guilty was or will officer Noonan get charged of anything?

Margaret Rose :

Of course Officer Noonan said she pointed the gun at him because he shot her and he needed an excuse for doing that. That’s exactly what guilty officers always say.

abluegirl :

I like the idea of bench trials especially if you are really innocent because fair judges have a much better sense of the law and reasonable doubt. I love that he explained his decision in the courtroom unlike a peer jury

Lucas Y :

Wow, finding an honest judge very unique. I 100% agree, very difficult case.

Jeff_Perth_WA 🇦🇺 :

That's what any person on a jury has to remember, even if it's only 1% of doubt over a small detail. You have to vote Not Guilty and hopefully your fellow jury members do the same.

Susan Hendricks :

He’s a great judge. Kind and empathetic. I believe Kelsey

LindsayElizabeth :

A just outcome, yes 🥳. Also - late to the party, honest question: If they are both police officers, why is he being addressed as Officer Noonan, but she's being referred to as Miss Fitzsimmons? 🤔 Wondering if this was addressed at the onset of trial at all (ie the judge chose his words carefully and for a specific reason), or if maybe this was a subconscious bias on the judges part. No shade to the judge. It just caught my attention and I'm sincerely curious...

SonOfNun :

Why is it a bench trial instead of a jury trial?

IheartAreeMarie :

Can she sue anyone for defamation?

Anonymous That One :

This judge's "opinion" and "conclusions" do not make rational sense to me

Just Jodijo :

I’m confused

priscillas_planet :

whoever wrote the caption for this post needs to rewrite it

JamesWelch :

Judge just accepted Fitzsimmons perjury

🌊 :

Capecodmamma :

Thank you Sir

Mk :

Makes ZERO SENSE

Ryan 🇵🇸 :

Josefa 🇩🇴 :

Woah

SunJames0805 :

Why weren’t the officers wearing body cameras?

𝕳𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖎𝖊 :

I LOVE the way he called them out for not wearing body cameras.

̶S̶̶H̶̶I̶̶F̶̶T̶E̶̶̶D̶ᵈʳᵉᵃᵐᶻ :

It is 2026, there is ZERO reason for LEO's to not have body cams while on duty!

J. Rolloff :

Cop found Not Guilty. Shocking

Cynthia Cahoon :

he walked that fine line by saying both were credible, but glad he decided on not guilty.