Kelsey Fitzsimmons​ trial features cross-examination of North Andover police officer who shot her: "She tried to kill me"

The criminal trial for North Andover, Massachusetts police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons on Tuesday included tense cross-examination of the colleague who shot her. Testimony in the bench trial could conclude as soon as Wednesday, the judge in the case said.

Officer Pat Noonan testified Monday that he shot Fitzsimmons during an incident at her home on June 30, 2025. Police went there 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.

On Tuesday, he continued that testimony, which included tense exchanges at times with defense attorney Timothy Bradl.

Prosecutors say Fitzsimmons allegedly pulled her service gun and tried to shoot Noonan. But Fitzsimmons argues she pulled the gun on herself in a mental health crisis.

Fitzsimmons, 29, faces one charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in the incident.

Prosecution and defense could rest Wednesday

The prosecution, which called its first witness Monday, could rest its case as early as Wednesday morning. At the end of proceedings on Tuesday, defense attorney Timothy Bradl said that if that's the case, he may be able to finish his case by the end of the day.

The judge allowed Bradl's request for a site visit at Fitzsimmons' home. That will take place at some point on Wednesday.

"We'll treat it like a view with the jury. You folks can point out things to me that you'd like me to remember. It will become part of the evidence like it is in a jury trial, my observations," Lawrence Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Karp said.

Only the judge and court staff, Fitzsimmons, and attorneys from both sides will be allowed inside the house. Fitzsimmons no longer lives in the home.

Karp said that if everything remains on schedule, closing statements could happen Thursday.

Officer Pat Noonan finishes testimony

Noonan was on the stand when court ended for the day Monday and returned Tuesday for cross-examination. There was a lengthy sidebar Tuesday while Bradl was cross-examining Noonan.

Noonan was out of the courtroom when attorneys returned from sidebar to discuss the issue with Judge Karp.

Bradl wanted to bring up three areas that he alleged showed Noonan was offered "promises, inducements or rewards for his testimony."

The defense attorney said that Noonan was not drug tested after shooting Fitzsimmons, which he alleged was a violation of North Andover town policy. Bradl also alleged that Noonan missed a shift sometime after the shooting due to an issue related to medication. Instead of a more serious consequence, Bradl said Noonan received a written reprimand.

Finally, Bradl alleged that Noonan was placed on administrative leave after the shooting, but was allowed to work traffic details. Bradl argued that was a violation of policy, saying, "You're either a policeman who can work or you're a policeman that can't work."

The prosecution argued that the actions were a result of collective bargaining agreements between the police department and union.

Judge Karp said that if this was a jury trial, it would have been an "easy, easy decision" and Bradl's motion would be denied. Because it is a bench trial, the judge allowed Bradl one question to Noonan on each off the three issues.

When Noonan returned, he was asked about being on leave and working details.  

"Yes, our union..." Noonan said before Bradl interrupted by saying, "It's a yes or no question."

Bradl attempted a follow-up question, but the prosecution objected.

"Sustained. No. You've gotten your answer Mr. Bradl. Next question," the judge said.

When Bradl asked about the written reprimand, Noonan said, "I have no idea. I was just called in one day to sign it."

Noonan finished his testimony around 11:45 a.m.

"She tried to kill me"

Earlier during cross-examination, Bradl tried to show inconsistencies between Noonan's prior statements about the shooting and his court testimony. 

"You told the police that you pulled the trigger once. You said the word 'once.' And then you said, 'I kept giving commands. And then you said, 'I pulled the trigger again,'" Bradl said. "That's a completely different scenario than two shots in rapid succession, isn't it?"

"As far as the time frame, I was trying to recall the event as best as possible," Noonan said. "But you know, the rapid succession, you pull the trigger, you pull it again, yes I pulled it twice."

Bradl asked Noonan about his relationship with Fitzsimmons and asked if he described her as a "whack job" to a neighbor.

"It's possible," Noonan said. "After she tried to kill me."

Noonan testified that he believes Fitzsimmons wanted to kill her ex-fiancé, who was in the basement.

"I think I was standing in her way for her to get downstairs and kill Justin," Noonan said.

What North Andover police officer heard

North Andover police officer Timothy Houston was in Fitzsimmons' home when Noonan shot her.

He said that the officers were following Fitzsimmons around the house because they were "a little bit on edge."

Houston took Fitzsimmons' son at one point and handed him to her mother, who had arrived at the home. Houston and Noonan followed Fitzsimmons so she could pack some more things.

The officer testified that at one point, he heard Noonan yell and then two gunshots and he started making his way upstairs.

"I know he did say, 'She pointed a gun at me and pulled the trigger,'" Houston said, referencing what Noonan said after shooting Fitzsimmons.

Bradl objected, saying that statement is "frankly news to the defense." Bradl argued during his objection that there is an "immediate impulse to cover up or make the situation look beneficial" to Noonan.

Kelsey Fitzsimmons' gun

Also on Tuesday, two police officers who responded to Fitzsimmons' home took the stand.

One was North Andover police officer Steven Corr. He testified that he arrived and found his fellow officers providing medical assistance to Fitzsimmons.

Corr said Noonan pointed down at a gun and told him to secure it. Corr testified that he put gloves on, emptied a round out of the chamber, and put everything in a box.

On cross-examination, Bradl highlighted that Corr did not memorialize what he was testifying about into a police report, and was not interviewed until 30 days after the incident.

Next on the stand was Massachusetts State Police Lt. Michael Bonasoro, who works in the firearm identification unit.

Bonasoro held up Fitzsimmons' gun up while on the witness stand. He said that when he examined the gun, there were 16 live cartridges in the magazine and one loose one.

After a total of about an hour on the stand, Bonasoro completed his testimony.

What happened in the Kelsey Fitzsimmons trial this week?

On the stand Monday, Noonan described the moment he said Fitzsimmons pulled her gun on him.

"She reappeared with a gun and pointed it right at me and pulled the trigger," Noonan said.

But, he added, there was no ammunition in the chamber, so Fitzsimmons tried again.

"I was yelling at her 'Don't do it, don't do it.' After she successfully got a round in the chamber, her right arm started to come up and I shot twice in rapid succession," Noonan said. Fitzsimmons was hit once in the chest. The other shot missed her.

Fitzsimmons spent several weeks in the hospital with a collapsed lung and was later charged with assault.

She chose to forego a jury trial and Judge Karp will decide her fate.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, please call the crisis lifeline at 988 or the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line at (833) 773-2445.