Temple University Officer Killed, Suspect Charged with Murder

A Temple University police officer died Saturday night after he was shot while responding to the report of a robbery. It was the first duty death for the university’s police department.

Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, 31, who was shot near campus, leaves behind a wife and four children. He joined the police department in October 2021, reports NBC10 , and is the son of the Regional Transportation District (Denver, CO) police chief. Both parents come from a law enforcement background and still serve.

The fallen officer began his career at age 19 as a corrections officer and later became a police officer.

"Officer Fitzgerald gave his life protecting the Temple community and we are forever indebted to him,” the Temple University Police Association tweeted following the officer’s death. "He valiantly served the Temple community and the people of Philadelphia."

Miles Pfeffer, 18, was taken into custody Sunday morning at his home in Bucks County and now has been formally charged with both murder and murder of a police officer, reports WPVI .

According to court records, Fitzgerald was initially responding to reports of a robbery when he first encountered Pfeffer. After the shooting, authorities allege Pfeffer stood over the officer and shot him several more times in the head while Fitzgerald was on the ground. Police have also accused Pfeffer of trying to rob Fitzgerald of his service weapon but was unsuccessful.