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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 Philadelphia Attorney’s Office said Sunday that suspect Miles Pfeffer was arrested at his home in Buckingham Township just after 7 a.m. Sunday by city and Philadelphia police, as well as state police and federal marshals. “Police used the fallen officer’s handcuffs to arrest the suspect,” the county prosecutor’s office said.
Officer Christopher Fitzgerald was shot dead in Philadelphia on Saturday while responding to a robbery, the university said.
Pfeffer faces charges of murder, murder of a police officer, robbery, carjacking and gun crimes. Prosecutors said Fitzgerald was shot in the head.
“Peffer also allegedly attempted to steal Officer Fitzgerald’s gun and search his pockets while the officer was down and mortally wounded,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement Sunday. “Peffer continues to be accused of stealing a car a short time later near the scene of the officer’s murder.”
Fitzgerald was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the university said on Saturday.
Temple University officials said Fitzgerald had been with the university police force since October 2021.
“Officer Fitzgerald gave his life selflessly serving and defending this community,” Jennifer Griffin, the university’s vice president of public safety, said in a statement. “This loss leaves a huge hole in all of our hearts. He was a father, a husband, a son, a colleague and a friend.”
University President Jason Wingard said he was “heartbroken,” calling the shooting “a heartbreaking reminder of the daily bravery and sacrifices made by our police officers to protect our students, faculty, staff and community,” while the city and nation ” 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 on duty tonight and bravely served his community.”
