Temple University Police Officer Fatally Shot Near Campus
Christopher Fitzgerald is the first Temple University police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
(Photo: fergregory, Adobe Stock)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald was shot and killed Saturday night as he was responding to reports of a robbery near campus.
Miles Pfeffer, 18, is accused of shooting the officer during the struggle, reports 6ABC.
Authorities also believe the suspect stood over Fitzgerald as he was on the ground and shot him several more times in the head. Additionally, authorities say Pfeffer went through Fitzgerald’s pockets as he was lying on the ground and attempted to take the officer’s firearm.
Fitzgerald is the first Temple University police officer to be killed in the line of duty, reports ABC News. The officer is survived by his wife, four children, and parents.
Most of the altercation between Fitzgerald and Pfeffer was caught on video surveillance, which helped law enforcement track down Pfeffer. Video also appears to show the suspect committing a carjacking after he fatally shot Fitzgerald, reports 6ABC.
The suspect was apprehended 12 hours later on Sunday morning about an hour away from the shooting in Buckingham Township. Pfeffer has been charged with murder, murder of a police officer, and other offenses. He told police that he melted down the firearm used in the shooting.
Funeral services for Fitzgerald will be held on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the John F. Givnish Funeral Home.
“Officer Fitzgerald gave his life to selflessly serve and defend this community,” Temple University Vice President for Public Safety Jennifer D. Griffin said in a statement. “The courage and bravery he displayed highlights the day-to-day sacrifice made by our Temple University Police Officers to keep our community safe. This loss leaves an enormous hole in all of our hearts. He was a father, a husband, a son, a colleague, and a friend.”
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help support Fitzgerald’s family.
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About the Author
Robin Hattersley, Editor-in-Chief
Robin has been covering the security and campus law enforcement industries since 1998 and is a specialist in school, university and hospital security, public safety and emergency management, as well as emerging technologies and systems integration. She joined CS in 2005 and has authored award-winning editorial on campus law enforcement and security funding, officer recruitment and retention, access control, IP video, network integration, event management, crime trends, the Clery Act, Title IX compliance, sexual assault, dating abuse, emergency communications, incident management software and more. Robin has been featured on national and local media outlets and was formerly associate editor for the trade publication Security Sales & Integration. She obtained her undergraduate degree in history from California State University, Long Beach.
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