Identified Police Officer Is Shot at Her Own Home by Fellow Cop

Shot by Her Own: North Andover Cop Wounded During Restraining Order Delivery

North Andover, Massachusetts — July 2, 2025 — The sun had just started to dip when police officers pulled up to a quiet home on Phillips Brooks Road. It was Monday evening. The job? Serve a restraining order. Routine on paper but what happened next left a town stunned, an officer in the hospital, and more questions than answers.
The person named in that order? One of their own, Officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons. She was off-duty, on administrative leave, when fellow officers came knocking.

Tensions Erupted Inside the Home

According to Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, three officers from the North Andover Police Department including a supervisor arrived at Fitzsimmons’s home shortly after 6:00 p.m. As one of them began escorting her during the service of the court order, something shifted. It was gathered that there was an armed confrontation, one of the responding officers discharged a firearm, striking Officer Fitzsimmons once.

She was flown to a Boston hospital by medical chopper. As of Tuesday morning, she was said to be in stable condition. Where the bullet struck her has not been revealed. Nor have officials commented on her mental state at the time. “We don’t yet know how long she will be receiving treatment,” Tucker told reporters. Her administrative leave, which was already in place, has been extended.

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A History That Points to Deeper Struggles

Digging through court records, a picture starts to form. Fitzsimmons had recently given birth. In February, she welcomed a child. A month later, EMTs and police responded to a call at her home involving what was described as a mental health episode. She was taken to the hospital and later diagnosed with postpartum depression.

That visit lasted about half a day 12 hours. Following that incident, she surrendered her service weapon. In June, she was cleared to return to work. Her license to carry was restored. But peace did not last long. On Monday, the same day she was shot, her fiancé filed for a restraining order. He claimed Fitzsimmons hit him, threatened to take their baby, and expressed concern for the child’s safety. He also requested sole custody of their infant, who is just four months old. The court approved the protective order. Police were sent to deliver it.

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The Warning Was There On Paper

Tucked inside the court documents was a handwritten note: Defendant is an officer with a license to carry. Plaintiff expressed concerns regarding Defendant’s reaction to being served. Even before arriving, officers knew the situation could be volatile.
They did not wear body cameras. North Andover Police do not use them.

Shooter Was a Veteran Officer Still No Name Released

The officer who pulled the trigger has not been identified publicly. What is known is that he has served on the force for over two decades. When pressed on whether Fitzsimmons had a weapon on her during the altercation, District Attorney Tucker would not give a direct answer and that they are holding back on some of those details until we complete interviews with the officers involved.

Emotions Run High Within the Department

At a brief appearance, Police Chief Charles Gray said the situation was difficult for everyone involved. They are concerned for all our officers, both on and off duty, and it is a heavy time for the department. Gray did not confirm whether Fitzsimmons had tried to get her weapon back in recent weeks, he said it was a personnel matter.

Mental Health Front and Center

Law enforcement mental health expert Jeff Zeizel said what happened underscores the need for psychological support in police departments. “When officers are dealing with trauma or major life changes, that pain cannot be ignored,” Zeizel said. “If you do not process it, it comes out eventually sometimes in tragic ways.”

No Charges Filed, but Many Questions Linger

For now, no arrests have been made. Fitzsimmons remains hospitalized. The officer who fired the shot is still on duty. And the investigation continues. Tucker acknowledged the complexity, that there were still interviews to do, more details to review and a lot remains unclear.  He also noted how unpredictable restraining order deliveries can be — even for experienced officers.

A Town Searching for Clarity

The scene on Phillips Brooks Road has quieted. But tension still lingers. One neighbor, who asked not to be named, summed it up this way: “It is hard to wrap your head around. A cop gets shot by another cop, right here in town — and no one seems to know why.”
North Andover, like many communities, is now left with more questions than answers. As the days go on, residents are watching closely, hoping that clarity and accountability will follow.