PHILADELPHIA — An man is dealing with homicide and different costs within the loss of life of a Temple University police officer shot and killed close to campus Saturday night time, authorities mentioned.
The Philadelphia district legal professional’s workplace mentioned 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer will face costs of homicide, homicide of a legislation enforcement officer, theft, carjacking and weapons crimes within the loss of life of Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, who prosecutors mentioned was shot within the head whereas responding to an incident close to campus.
“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 mentioned in a press release Sunday. “Pfeffer is further alleged to have committed a carjacking a short time after, close to the location of the officer’s murder.”
The Bucks County district legal professional’s workplace mentioned Pfeffer was taken into custody shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday at his Buckingham Township house by township and Philadelphia police in addition to state police and federal marshals. “Police used the fallen officer’s handcuffs in placing the suspect under arrest,” county prosecutors mentioned.
There was no fast phrase on whether or not Pfeffer had an legal professional; a quantity listed for his house was now not in service.
Temple University officers mentioned Fitzgerald had been on the college police pressure since October 2021.
“Officer Fitzgerald gave his life to selflessly serve and defend this community,” Jennifer Griffin, the college’s vp for public security, mentioned in a press release. “This loss leaves an enormous hole in all of our hearts. He was a father, a husband, a son, a colleague, and a friend.”
University president Jason Wingard mentioned he was “heartbroken” and known as the capturing “a gut-wrenching reminder of our police officers’ daily bravery and sacrifices to protect our students, faculty, staff and community” as the town and the nation cope with “an unprecedented epidemic of violence.”
Ken Kaiser, the college’s senior vp and chief working officer, was quoted by the Philadelphia Inquirer as saying it was the primary capturing loss of life of a campus officer throughout his greater than 30 years at Temple. “It just shakes everybody to the core,” he mentioned.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro tweeted that he and first girl Lori had been “devastated for the family of the Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty tonight, bravely serving his community.”
They despatched prayers to his household, Temple police and the college neighborhood, he added, saying, “May his memory be a blessing.”
Joseph Regan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, additionally expressed condolences.
“There are no words to describe the news of another one of our officers being shot,” Regan mentioned in a press release. “This officer is a hero whose legacy and unselfish act will live in our hearts and memories forever.”
It was the primary deadly capturing of an on-duty police officer in Philadelphia since 2020, in accordance with The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”