Christopher Fitzgerald Wiki – Christopher Fitzgerald Biography
An 18-year-old is facing murder charges after he allegedly shot and killed a Temple University police officer Saturday night near the school’s Philadelphia campus, authorities say. Officer Chris Fitzgerald, 31, was found in the 1700 block of Montgomery Ave. in Philadelphia with multiple gunshot wounds to his face and body, according to police.
Fitzgerald was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:27 p.m. A husband and father of four children, Fitzgerald was the first Temple police officer to be killed in the line of duty. “We join law enforcement and people across the region in expressing our anguish and outrage over this horrific crime,” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement. ”
Christopher Fitzgerald Age
Christopher Fitzgerald was 50 years old.
Christopher Fitzgerald Cause of Death
Officer Fitzgerald’s life was violently and senselessly torn from him and his loved ones.” The next morning, Miles Pfeffer was taken into custody by US Marshals and Bucks County police at his home in Buckingham Township in Bucks County, Krasner said in the statement.
Pfeffer was flown to Philadelphia shortly thereafter, where he was arrested by Philadelphia Police, who are leading the investigation into the murder of the slain officer, according to Krasner. Pfeffer is charged with murder, murder of a law enforcement officer and related crimes.
He is also charged with robbery, carjacking and other related crimes in connection with a man’s alleged carjacking after the shooting. The deadly incident unfolded just after 7 p.m. on Saturday, when Fitzgerald encountered Pfeffer “during the course of an investigation of incidents near the edge of the Temple campus,” the district attorney said in the statement.
In an update on the shooting, authorities said Tuesday that Fitzgerald got out of his patrol car in full uniform and approached three people dressed in black and wearing masks in an area that had recently been beset by robberies and carjackings, NBC reports. 10.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police said Fitzgerald could be heard on the radio saying he was chasing a black-clad suspect on foot, NBC 10 reports. The video shows Fitzgerald chasing Pfeffer and telling him to get down as they approached Montgomery Ave.,
Philadelphia Police Personnel Inspector Ernest Ransom said during the update, NBC 10 reports. Pfeffer pulled out a gun and shot the officer, Ransom said Tuesday, according to Fox 29. “You can hear the shots and see the muzzle flashes, ‘bang, bang, bang,'” Ransom said.
“As Officer Fitzgerald falls to the ground, Pfeffer then shoots the officer, while on the ground, an additional three shots, ‘bang, bang, bang,'” Ransom said. Pfeffer allegedly shot Fitzgerald in the head, Krasner said in his statement. “It is also alleged that Pfeffer attempted to steal Officer Fitzgerald’s gun and that he went through his pockets as the officer lay on the ground and was fatally wounded,” the district attorney said.
But Pfeffer allegedly couldn’t get the gun out of the holster, Ransom said. Pfeffer fled the scene but allegedly committed a carjacking near the scene of the fatal shooting, according to the district attorney’s statement. He allegedly hears the suspect say “give me the keys or I’ll kill you” and takes the car, according to the police report, according to NBC 10.
Police found the wrecked car nearby. Pfeffer allegedly called his mother and asked her to come pick him up, police said, reports NBC 10. At 7 am. On Sunday, US Marshals, the Central Bucks Special Response Team and police officers invaded Pfeffer’s home on the sprawling grounds of historic Boxley Farm, owned by his mother, reports CBS Philadelphia.
Multiple weapons were seized from the property, reports CBS Philadelphia. His mother was detained for questioning, according to CBS Philadelphia. Officers placed Fitzgerald’s handcuffs on Pfeffer when he was taken into custody, said Rob Clark of the US Marshals Service, reports CBS Philadelphia.
“That’s a tradition that we do anytime there’s an officer down and we thought it was important to put the suspect back in handcuffs,” Clark said. A Gofundme has been set up to help Fitzgerald’s wife and children. “Officer Fitzgerald was a loving husband, father, friend and public servant whose dedication to his family and community was unmatched,” wrote Rossman Shaffer, who organized the fundraiser.
“Officer Fitzgerald loved being a police officer and he will always be remembered for his courage in fighting crime and his compassion for his community.” Pfeffer is being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Center in Philadelphia without bond. It is not clear if he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf or if his mother is facing charges.
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