Kelsey Fitzsimmons | Source: Facebook/NorthAndoverPolice
Here’s a clearer and more structured version of your sentence if you’d like to use it in a report or news article:
“A 28-year-old North Andover police officer was wounded in a shooting involving fellow officers during a court-ordered intervention at her home. State and local authorities have launched an ongoing investigation into the incident.”
Newly filed court documents reveal that Justin Aylaian, fiancé of North Andover police officer Kelsey E. Fitzsimmons, feared she might harm their infant son and take her own life.
According to records, Aylaian sought an emergency restraining order after Fitzsimmons allegedly made alarming statements about leaving with their child. The order was served just hours before Fitzsimmons was shot during an armed confrontation with her colleagues at her North Andover home.
“I fear she will kill the baby at any moment,” Aylaian wrote in his application for the protective order. “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 incident, which left Fitzsimmons wounded, is under investigation by state and local authorities.
New court documents reveal that Justin Aylaian, fiancé of North Andover police officer Kelsey E. Fitzsimmons, feared she might harm their infant son and herself — concerns that led to a restraining order being served just hours before Fitzsimmons was shot during a confrontation with fellow officers.
Aylaian, who also serves as a police officer in North Andover, wrote in his affidavit that Fitzsimmons had “punched her stomach repeatedly while pregnant, saying she would kill herself and the baby.” He warned police in advance about her potential reaction to being served with the protective order.
A judge issued the order at 4:31 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025. Approximately two hours later, three officers arrived at Fitzsimmons’ residence on Phillips Brooks Road to deliver it.
According to authorities, Fitzsimmons, who was off duty at the time, became involved in an armed confrontation with the responding officers. She was shot once in the chest and was flown to a Boston hospital, where she was reported in stable condition as of Tuesday morning.
Court documents also indicate that Fitzsimmons gave birth to her son on February 16. On March 9, emergency responders were called to her home after a reported mental health episode.
An investigation by state and local agencies into the circumstances of the shooting is ongoing.
Additional court and police records provide a deeper look into the mental health challenges faced by North Andover police officer Kelsey E. Fitzsimmons in the months leading up to Monday’s shooting.
On March 9, after a reported mental health episode at her home, Fitzsimmons was involuntarily hospitalized for 12 hours at Lowell General Hospital, where she was diagnosed with postpartum depression. The following day, she surrendered both her department-issued firearm and a privately owned weapon.
Her license to carry was suspended, and she was placed on administrative leave on April 30. In May, Fitzsimmons requested that her license be reinstated, citing continued treatment with a psychiatrist and therapist.
By June 18, police cleared her to return to duty and reinstated her license to carry. However, authorities have not confirmed whether her firearms were actually returned to her possession. As of the day of the shooting, she remained on administrative leave, according to North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray.
The June 30 confrontation occurred after fellow officers arrived to serve a court-ordered restraining order at Fitzsimmons’ home. An armed standoff followed, ending with Fitzsimmons being shot once in the chest. She was airlifted to a Boston hospital and listed in stable condition on Tuesday.
The incident remains under investigation by state and local authorities.
North Andover, Mass. — July 2, 2025
A North Andover police officer remains hospitalized after she was shot by fellow officers during a court-ordered intervention at her home, following disturbing allegations about threats to her infant son and herself.
The officer, identified as 28-year-old Kelsey E. Fitzsimmons, was wounded Monday evening after an armed confrontation with colleagues who were attempting to serve a restraining order. The order had been requested by her fiancé, Justin Aylaian, who is also a North Andover police officer.
According to newly released court documents, Aylaian feared Fitzsimmons would harm their four-month-old son and possibly take her own life. The filings detailed a series of incidents dating back to the child’s birth, including mental health crises, physical altercations, and alarming threats.
“I fear she will kill the baby at any moment,” Aylaian wrote in his affidavit. “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 restraining order followed an incident on June 28 in Maine, where the couple had gathered with family and friends. Aylaian alleged that Fitzsimmons, while intoxicated, punched him repeatedly in the face. He left out of fear for his safety, claiming Fitzsimmons continued to act aggressively toward others after he departed.
Fitzsimmons then reportedly tried to leave Maine to retrieve their child, who was staying with Aylaian’s parents. Her own parents ultimately took custody of the baby as multiple police departments were contacted to prevent potential harm.
“I fear if she doesn’t have me she will kill the baby because she has said she has nothing besides me,” Aylaian wrote, describing Fitzsimmons as a danger to himself, their son, and herself.
A judge issued the restraining order on Monday, June 30, at 4:31 p.m. Roughly two hours later, three North Andover police officers arrived at Fitzsimmons’ Phillips Brooks Road residence to serve it.
According to authorities, Fitzsimmons was off duty at the time. She allegedly confronted the responding officers with a firearm and refused orders to surrender. An armed standoff unfolded, ending when officers fired, striking her once in the chest.
Fitzsimmons was airlifted to a Boston hospital, where she remained in stable condition on Tuesday morning.
Documented Mental Health Struggles
Court and police records reveal Fitzsimmons had struggled with her mental health since giving birth to her son on February 16. On March 9, emergency responders were called to her home for a reported mental health episode. Fitzsimmons was hospitalized involuntarily for 12 hours at Lowell General Hospital and diagnosed with postpartum depression.
She surrendered her department-issued firearm and a privately owned weapon the next day. Her license to carry was suspended, and she was placed on administrative leave on April 30.
In May, Fitzsimmons petitioned to have her license reinstated, stating she was under ongoing psychiatric and therapeutic care. By June 18, police cleared her to return to work and reinstated her license to carry, although it remains unclear if her firearms were returned to her possession before Monday’s events. Police Chief Charles Gray said Fitzsimmons was still on administrative leave at the time of the confrontation.
Community and Police Response
The Massachusetts State Police and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office are leading the investigation into both the shooting and the broader circumstances surrounding Fitzsimmons’ mental health, licensing, and supervision.
Chief Gray acknowledged the complex tragedy in a public statement.
“This is a deeply challenging moment for our department and the community,” he said. “We are committed to a transparent and thorough investigation, and our primary concern is for the health and safety of everyone involved, especially the child.”
Experts say the situation underscores the dangerous intersection of postpartum mental illness, intimate partner conflict, and the presence of firearms in a household.
“Postpartum depression can dramatically change a person’s thinking,” said Dr. Erica Nguyen, a psychiatrist specializing in perinatal mental health. “When you combine that with relationship breakdown and access to weapons, the results can be catastrophic.”
Neighbors on Phillips Brooks Road were stunned by Monday’s confrontation, describing Fitzsimmons as a seemingly loving new mother who appeared to be trying to recover.
“It’s heartbreaking,” one neighbor said. “She just had a baby. Nobody expected it to end up like this.”
As of Tuesday, Fitzsimmons’ parents retained custody of the baby. Police officials emphasized that department members and the community will have access to support resources as the investigation continues.
