The Bucks County man accused of killing a Temple University police officer shot him six times, and came back to attempt to rob him of his service weapon as he laid on the ground, police said at a Tuesday morning news conference to update the investigation and response into the killing.
“There aren’t enough words to express how heartbroken we are by this extraordinary loss of life of a man who not only dedicated his life to service and was a loving son and father who should still be with us today,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny. “This is a tragedy that has unnerved our cities.”
Miles Pfeffer, 18, of Buckingham, is accused of fatally shooting Officer Chris Fitzgerald, 31, in what is the college police department’s first line-of-duty death.
On Tuesday police provided additional details describing the circumstances that led to Fitzgerald placing a radio call that he was in pursuit of three individuals dressed in black and masks at 7:12 pm. Saturday near the North Philadelphia campus.
Temple University Director of Public Safety Dr. Jennifer Griffin on Tuesday said Fitzgerald was alone on patrol Saturday, and that Temple officers typically patrol alone in and around campus in marked cars.
The three were in an area of 1800 block of Montgomery Avenue where there have been a series of robberies and carjackings, Philadelphia Homicide Unit Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom said. The males, including Pfeffer, were in the city visiting friends, authorities said.
The three ran when Fitzgerald attempted to stop them. Two of the three, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, who were not identified, hid and Fitzgerald continued to pursue Pfeffer into the 1700 block of Montgomery Avenue, roughly one block of the city’s 22nd police district, Ransom said.
Surveillance video obtained from the area shows Fitzgerald had caught up with Pfeffer and the officer can be heard telling him to “go to the ground.” The two then went behind an SUV, which was out of camera view, where authorities say Pfeffer pulled out a handgun and fired at Fitzgerald.
“Bang. Bang. Bang,” Ransom said.
Fitzgerald fell to the ground and he was shot three more times in the face and chest, Ransom said.
After shooting the officer, it appears that Pfeffer started to run, but then came back to the wounded officer and attempted unsuccessfully to remove his service weapon from the holster, Ransom said.
Authorities allege Pfeffer then ran to the 1800 block of Montgomery Avenue where he carjacked a man, threatening to kill him if he didn’t hand over his car keys. Ransom said the car was later recovered in the 1900 block of North 30th street. Fitzgerald was taken to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Authorities have declined to provide answers to some questions citing the case as an ongoing investigation and the potential for more individuals and charges to be filed. Among the outstanding questions, where did Pfeffer get the weapon he allegedly used.
On Tuesday Ransom would only say that “several” firearms had been confiscated from the suspect’s Buckingham home when he was taken into custody on Sunday morning, roughly 12 hours after the shooting. The weapon used in the murder has not been recovered, Ransom said.
The firearms that police confiscated from Pfeffer’s Quarry Road home are undergoing forensic analysis, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said on Tuesday. He declined to comment about whether additional charges may be filed against other individuals.
Krasner said his office was precluded by law from discussing published media reports that Pfeffer was arrested last year in connection with a false bomb threat at Central Bucks South High School in November, 2021. Three juveniles were charged in the incident, according to police in Bucks County.
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On Sunday morning, police from local, state and federal agencies arrested Pfeffer at the Buckingham home, using Fitzgerald’s handcuffs. The U.S. Marshals Service, Central Bucks Special Response Team, Buckingham Police and Philadelphia Homicide Detectives arrested him at his home about 7:30 a.m.
Investigators spent a portion of the day searching the home and were seen on news footage going through a fire pit as Pfeffer allegedly told police he tried to melt the gun used in the shooting.
The quick apprehension was credited with police work, but also that a Philadelphia police Cpl. Theresa Brooks on duty in the 22nd district had her police radio with her went to backup Fitzgerald, who was on patrol alone, after hearing his radio call.
As she approached the crime scene, she heard a gunshot and saw two males run, and she was able to detain them. They two males were individuals who had hid during the pursuit by Fitzgerald. The two teens, who were unarmed, were taken to police headquarters where detectives interviewed them, and the information they provided led to developing Pfeffer as a potential suspect, Ransom said.
He added that when he was taken into custody for questioning, Pfeffer also provided detectives with information that led to the charges against him.
Fitzgerald, joined the Temple force in October 2021 after spending time as a corrections officer in Lehigh County and as a member of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and housing authority police department.
He was married and the father of five children. A Go Fund Me campaign has been set up to support the family.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Tuesday that Pfeffer will remain in custody where he can “no longer terrorize the members of our community.”
“Christopher’s loss is not just our loss as sisters and brothers in blue,” Outlaw added. “Our loss will be felt by anyone who felt his kindness.”
Temple President Jason Wingard said the college in North Philadelphia is working on developing a coordinated safety plan and will release details soon. He said they have the support and resources of the state and city.
Wingard and others on Tuesday renewed calls on state and federal legislatures to take steps to enact common sense laws to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not possess them.
“Officer Fitzgerald showed up to protect our community, and for that we are deeply, deeply indebted,” Wingard said. “Gun violence is a national epidemic that is ravaging Philadelphia and destroying our communities.
A visibly emotional Griffin said that Fitzgerald was “exceptionally proud” to be a Temple University police officer and was working to change the “trajectory of violence in Philadelphia.”
“He was a beloved colleague, shift mate, public servant, community officer, husband, father of five children, son, family member, friend and running mate to many,” Griffin said.
Mayor Kenny also said that there are too many guns on Philadelphia streets and they are “too easy to get,” calling for the need to limit access to firearms.
“I don’t think our Founding Fathers considered what we are going through today,” he added. “We are fighting an uphill battle and it doesn’t have to be this way. I will continue to call on state lawmakers for sensible gun reforms that will protect our city’s residents, including the brave men and women who have taken an oath to protect the peace. You can say you back the blue, but if you vote back gun control, you don’t back to blue.”
