An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the death of a Temple University police officer who was shot near campus Saturday night, officials said.
The suspect, Miles Pfeffer, was detained by township, Philadelphia, state, and federal marshals just after 7 a.m. on Sunday at his residence in Buckingham Township, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office.” Police used the fallen officer’s handcuffs in placing the suspect under arrest,” county prosecutors said.
Several firearms were found, according to Alicia Roberts of CBS Philadelphia, who also notes that Pfeffer’s mother, who was present at the house when her son was detained, owns the property. She was also arrested and interrogated.
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Officer Christopher Fitzgerald was shot while responding to a robbery, the university said. Pfeffer will be accused of murder, the murder of an officer of the police, robbery, carjacking, and offenses using weapons. According to the prosecution, Fitzgerald received a headshot.
“Pfeffer is also alleged to have attempted to rob Officer Fitzgerald of his gun and to have gone through his pockets while the officer was laying on the ground and fatally wounded,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement Sunday. “Pfeffer is further alleged to have committed a carjacking a short time after, close to the location of the officer’s murder.”
Fitzgerald was taken in emergency care and later pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital, according to the university on Saturday. Fitzgerald has been a member of the school’s police force since October 2021, according to school officials.
“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.”
A Tweet From the Suspect Charged In Killing Of Philadelphia Police Officer
Lori and I are devastated for the family of the Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty tonight, bravely serving his community.
We’re sending prayers to his loved ones, Temple Police, and the entire @TempleUniv community. May his memory be a blessing.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) February 19, 2023
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.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro tweeted that he and his wife were “devastated for the family of the Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty tonight, bravely serving his community.”
For almost 4 years, Jason Martin has been a freelance writer for newspapers, journals, blogs, books, and online material. He covers the most recent news as well as many other topics.