PHILADELPHIA-AP (WBAP/KLIF) — The 31-year old son of former Fort Worth police chief Joel Fitzgerald was killed in a line-of-duty shooting over the weekend.
Slain Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald was killed while in pursuit of robbery suspects near the campus Saturday night.
The Philadelphia district attorney’s office said 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer, who reportedly has a long criminal juvenile record will face charges of murder, murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, carjacking and weapons crimes in the death of Officer Fitzgerald.
“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.”
Pfeffer was taken into custody shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday in his upscale Buckingham Township, Bucks County community from his family home by Philadelphia police as well as state police and federal marshals. “Police used the fallen officer’s handcuffs in placing the suspect under arrest,” county prosecutors said.
The Fort Worth Police Department issued a statement in reaction to the officer’s death:
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Temple University Police Officer Christopher David Fitzgerald, son of former FWPD Chief Joel Fitzgerald, who bravely served his community and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and fellow officers during this difficult time and we extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by this senseless act of violence.
We honor Officer Fitzgerald’s selfless service and dedication to protecting and serving the public. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him and in the community he served.”
The Fort Worth Police Officers’ Association also expressed its condolences:
(Copyright 2023 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from The Associated Press.)
