NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The robbery suspect behind a phone store holdup that left a 19-year veteran of the NYPD dead is a career criminal with an extensive rap sheet, including for grand larceny and impersonating a cop, according to law enforcement sources and officials.
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Christopher Ransom was taken into custody after being shot multiple times Tuesday evening by officers responding to a robbery at a T-Mobile in Richmond Hill, Queens.
The 27-year-old was in stable condition Wednesday. Police say the robbery he staged led to a tragic incident of “friendly fire” in which 42-year-old Det. Brian Simonsen was shot and killed by police.
“Make no mistake about it, friendly fire aside, it is because of the actions of the suspect that Detective Simonsen is dead,” NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said.
Law enforcement sources tell 1010 WINS that Ransom may have been part of a team of criminals being sought in connection with a robbery pattern, including a similar holdup in Jamaica back on Jan. 19.
The sources tell 1010 WINS that Ransom is the man seen in surveillance video from the robbery on Jan. 19.
The video (above) shows a man wearing all black and carrying what appears to be a black firearm. In a previous release, the NYPD said the suspect in that robbery threatened a 28-year-old employee before stealing $850.
A second, unreleased video from the robbery at the T-Mobile store on Tuesday shows Ransom taking two employees to a back room, according to sources, who said Ransom was brandishing what looked to be a 9mm or a .45 auto.
The sources say that firearm turned out to be a fake and that it may be similar to the weapon used in the Jan. 19 robbery.
Ransom has an extensive criminal record: He was arrested for criminal impersonation of a police officer in 2016; fare evasion in 2016; petit larceny in 2015; twice for grand larceny in 2014; criminal contempt for violating an order of protection in 2013; criminal impersonation in 2012; and violation of a local law in 2010.
In the 2016 criminal impersonation arrest, sources say Ransom was found at a backdoor of the 77th Precinct around 5 a.m., pressing security code buttons and wearing a fake SWAT vest and badge.
The 2014 grand larceny charges involved Ransom stealing handbags on four different occasions, including three times from the same store, according to sources.
In the 2013 criminal contempt arrest, sources say Ransom violated an order of protection for two female judges by pretending to be a court intern. He had been prior, the sources say, but did not have further authorization.
The Daily News reports that the arrests for impersonating a cop earned him the street nickname “Detective.”
Ransom also has other sealed records, according to police.