A police officer from Temple University was shot and died in the area around the university, and an 18-year-old guy is now facing charges, including murder.
Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, 31, was shot in the head by suspect Miles Pfeffer on Saturday night during a heist. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, he also rummaged through Fitzgerald’s pockets after knocking him to the ground in an attempt to steal his pistol.
Murder, including the murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, and carjacking will all be among the allegations against him. According to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Pfeffer shot Fitzgerald during an armed carjacking.
District Attorney Lawrence Krasner tweeted on Sunday that “we are already coordinating with [Philadelphia Police] to bring the accountable people to justice.” We have reached out to Mr. Krasner’s office and the Philadelphia Police Department for comment. It was reported by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office that Pfeffer was arrested at his house in the 2300 block of Quarry Road in Buckingham Township at around 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Officer’s handcuffs were used to apprehend the suspect, police stated in a statement. According to information cited by Alicia Roberts of CBS Philly, many firearms were recovered from Pfeffer’s residence.
His mother owns the house and was there when police came to take him into custody. According to the station’s reporting, she was also arrested and hauled in for interrogation.
Pfeffer was allegedly well-known to local police for committing “nuisance offences,” according to the station’s sources.
The family reportedly moved in around four years ago, and neighbours claim they’ve seen police officers at their house on many occasions.
The Temple University Police Association set up a GoFundMe to help support Fitzgerald’s family, and in little over 14 hours they’ve collected almost $160,000.
Officer Fitzgerald was a devoted family man and friend who gave his all to his job and neighbourhood, according to a statement on the page.
It was clear that Officer Fitzgerald’s heart was with the people of his neighbourhood, and he will be remembered fondly for his bravery in the face of danger and his dedication to serving and protecting them.
According to Temple University, Fitzgerald has been a member of the police department there since October 2021. University Vice President for Public Safety Jennifer Griffin stated in a statement on Sunday, “Officer Fitzgerald dedicated his life to selflessly serve and defend this community.”
All of our hearts have been ripped out by this tragedy. As well as being a parent, husband, son, coworker, and friend, he was also a father.
Jason Wingard, president of the institution, issued a statement calling the shooting “a gut-wrenching reminder of our police officers’ everyday bravery and sacrifices to defend our students, teachers, staff, and community.”
His follow-up statement was, “There are simply no words that can make sense of this catastrophe.” It rips at our feelings of togetherness and security. Indescribable tragedy has struck our community, and we all feel its weight.
‘Epidemic of Violence’
Wingard also pointed out that it occurred during what he called “an extraordinary pandemic of violence” in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the country.
To commemorate Fitzgerald, Mayor Jim Kenny of Philadelphia commanded that all municipal flags be lowered to half-staff.
Kenney expressed his “great sadness” over the loss of Officer Christopher Fitzgerald and his “outrage” over this and other acts of needless violence in the city. Officer Fitzgerald’s friends, loved ones, and coworkers have our deepest condolences. The loss of such a dedicated and caring member of our team is devastating.
Kenney also stated that his administration will continue to “work relentlessly with our allies to address the plague of violence that is afflicting communities around the country” in an effort to reduce gun violence.
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