Suspect arrested in killing of Temple University cop

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of a Temple University police officer near campus on Saturday night, officials said.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said Sunday that the suspect, Miles Pfeffer, was arrested shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday at his home in Buckingham Township by township and Philadelphia police, as well as city police. State and Federal Marshals. “Police used the deceased officer’s handcuffs to place the suspect under arrest,” county prosecutors said.

Officer Christopher Fitzgerald was fatally shot in Philadelphia on Saturday while responding to a robbery, the university said.

Pfeffer will face charges of murder, murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, carjacking and crimes with weapons. Prosecutors said Fitzgerald was shot in the head.

“Pfeffer is also suspected of attempting to steal his gun from Officer Fitzgerald and searching his pockets, while the officer was lying on the ground and fatally injured,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said Sunday. in a press release. “Pfeffer is further charged with committing a carjacking shortly thereafter near the scene of the officer’s murder.”

Fitzgerald was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the university said Saturday.

Temple University officials said Fitzgerald has been on the university police 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 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’ and called the shooting a ‘heartbreaking reminder of the bravery and daily sacrifices of our police officers to protect our students, our faculty, our staff and our community” as the city and nation face “an unprecedented epidemic of violence.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro tweeted that he and his wife are “devastated for the family of the Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty tonight in the brave service of his community”.