What to Know
- Authorities say an 18-year-old suspect is facing murder and other charges in the death of a Temple University police officer shot near campus in Philadelphia.
- The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer would also face charges of murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, carjacking and weapons crimes in the death of 31-year-old Officer Christopher Fitzgerald.
- Temple University president Jason Wingard called the shooting ‘a gut-wrenching reminder’ of officers' bravery and sacrifices.
Editor's Note (Feb. 21, 2023, 9:59 a.m.): This story is no longer being updated. Click here for updated coverage of Officer Christopher Fitzgerald's killing.
We are learning more about the deadly shooting of Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald.
Eighteen-year-old Miles Pfeffer is accused of killing Fitzgerald near North 17 Street and West Montgomery Avenue in North Philadelphia Saturday night. The officer at the time was trying to apprehend a person who robbed a nearby convenience store, Temple said in a statement Saturday night.
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On Saturday, Feb. 18, at 7:12 p.m., officer Fitzgerald was heard over the radio in a foot pursuit of a suspect in all black clothing, police said in an affidavit of probable cause.
Fitzgerald told the suspect to get on the ground multiple times before the suspect began shooting, police know from sound and video surveillance, sources said.
According to police, once Fitzgerald was on the ground, the suspect stood over him and fired more shots into his face and head.
Then the suspect searched the officer’s pockets and tried to steal his service weapon, but couldn’t get the gun out of the holster, police said.
Temple University police officers responded to the call and located Fitzgerald on the 1700 block of Montgomery Avenue suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the face and body, according to police.
Fitzgerald was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:27 p.m.
A few minutes after the shooting, the same suspect approached another victim on the 1800 block of North 18th Street and stole their car. The suspect is heard saying “give me the keys or I’ll kill you,” and takes the car, according to police.
"I didn't really process what he was saying until I saw his gun," said carjacking victim Tim Tran.
"You really don't know what it's like to have a gun pointed at your chest," the carjacked driver told NBC10's Karen Hua.
Witnesses confirmed that the suspect seen in surveillance videos is Pfeffer, according to sources.
Pfeffer's own brother said he was with his brother in the High Times store shortly before the shooting, police said.
The brother later told police he had ducked into an alley from where he saw a police officer chasing Pfeffer before hearing gunshots, according to the affidavit.
A friend was with the brothers in the store, police said. The friend said he left the store and went a different direction than the Pfeffers, but later heard gunshots and ran back into the brother.
The stolen car was found crashed into another vehicle at 29th Street and Ridge Avenue, according to police.
Police said that Pfeffer's mom then picked him up near 29th and Ridge. Philadelphia property records show that Pfeffer's dad owns property in that area.
The mom then drove her son back to their home in Bucks County. On Sunday morning, police descended on the Buckingham Township family home of Pfeffer, where he was arrested using Fitzgerald's handcuffs.
"That's a tradition that we do any time there is a fallen officer. We felt it was important to remember officer Fitzgerald by once again placing his cuffs on the suspect," Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, Robert Clark explained at the time of the arrest.
The Bucks County teenager accused of gunning down a Temple University police officer over the weekend was arraigned on murder and a slew of other charges in Philadelphia Monday morning.
On Sunday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced that Pfeffer would be charged with murder, murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, carjacking, possession of an instrument of crime and related offenses.
In detailing the charges, Krasner said that law enforcement officials believe that Fitzgerald encountered Pfeffer on Saturday night "during the course of an incident investigation near the border of Temple’s campus."
The Central Bucks School District confirmed to NBC10 that Pfeffer once went to its schools, but hadn't been enrolled since fall 2019.
Pfeffer was held Monday without bail.
It wasn't immediately clear if Pfeffer had retained legal representation. The Defender Association of Philadelphia, a nonprofit group that serves as the city's public defender's office, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
Remembering a 'Forever Hero'
After Pfeffer's arrest, the Temple University Police Association shared several photos of officer Fitzgerald on social media.
"Officer Fitzgerald gave his life protecting the temple community and we are forever indebted to him," the organization tweeted. "He valiantly served the Temple community and the people of Philadelphia."
Fitzgerald was a married father of four children, ages 7 through 14. His family said he was working overtime at the time of his killing. They are devastated by his death.
There is also a memorial to the slain officer at the intersection where he was killed. "Hero" was written on a sign at the memorial.
Fitzgerald was the first line-of-duty death in the history of the campus police department, a university official said.
University president Jason Wingard said he was “heartbroken” and called the shooting “a gut-wrenching reminder of our police officers’ daily bravery and sacrifices to protect our students, faculty, staff and community” as the city and the nation deal with “an unprecedented epidemic of violence.”
Temple University officials said Fitzgerald, 31, had been on the university police force since October 2021.
“Officer Fitzgerald gave his life to selflessly serve and defend this community,” Jennifer Griffin, the university's vice president for public safety, said in a statement. “This loss leaves an enormous hole in all of our hearts. He was a father, a husband, a son, a colleague, and a friend.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff in Fitzgerald's honor.
Funeral Arrangements
Funeral arrangements for Officer Fitzgerald will start on Thursday, Feb. 23 with a viewing from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at John F. Givnish Funeral Home at 10975 Academy Rd. in Northeast Philadelphia.
Another viewing will be held on Friday, Feb 24 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at 1723 Race Street in Center City. The funeral service will begin around 11:30 a.m.
Immediately following the service will be the burial at Forest Hills Cemetery at 101 Byberry Rd. in Huntingdon Valley.
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