New York police officer accidentally shot dead by colleagues

Officers salute a procession as the remains of slain Detective Brian Simonsen pass by ( AP/Kevin Hagen )

A New York City police officer was shot and killed by “friendly fire” after he and another detective responded to an armed robbery.

Brian Simonsen, 42, was shot in the chest and declared dead, the city’s police chief said.

The second detective was shot in the leg but was listed as stable, police commissioner James O’Neill said.

Mr O’Neill said the two detectives were in civilian clothes as they responded to a call about a robbery at a T-Mobile store in Queens.

They shot at the man and retreated from the store, which was surrounded by other officers.

Detective Brian Simonsen was shot in the chest while responding to an armed robbery (New York City Police Department via AP)

The other officers responded and fired multiple rounds, during which Mr Simonsen was hit, according to Mr O’Neill.

“This is an absolute tragedy, the worst outcome any police officer or family of a police officer could ever imagine,” Mr O’Neill said.

“Friendly fire aside, it is because of the actions of the suspect that Detective Simonsen is dead.”

The suspect was not identified by police, but was described as a 27-year-old “career criminal”.

He was shot multiple times and taken to hospital and an “imitation firearm” was found at the scene, Mr O’Neill said.

Mr Simonsen was the first New York police officer to die in the line of duty since July 2017.