Philidelphia, PN (2/25/2023) – Philidelphia Police Department (PPD) reported on February 18, 2023, Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald notified radio dispatch that he was in a foot pursuit with an individual on the 1700 block of Montgomery Avenue in North Philadelphia.
When Officer Fitzgerald caught up to the suspect, later identified as an 18-year-old male, the two got into a violent struggle. The male pulled out a gun and shot Officer Fitzgerald multiple times. The suspect continued to fire while the gravely wounded officer was on the ground and tried to take the officer’s service weapon from his holster but couldn’t work the retention.
The suspect carjacked a nearby resident’s vehicle and fled the scene. Officer Fitzgerald was rushed to the hospital by another officer immediately after the shooting, but he did not survive his wounds.
Miles Pfeffer, an 18-year-old suspect, was arrested on the 2300 block of Quarry Road in Bucks County.
U.S. Marshals apprehended the PFeffer around 7 am Sunday, February 19, 2023. Officer Fitzgerald’s handcuffs were used to take him into custody.
31-year-old Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald leaves behind a loving wife and four children. Chris previously served as a Philadelphia Housing Police Officer and a Philadelphia Sheriff’s Deputy before joining the Temple University Police Department. Officer Fitzgerald was the first police officer in the University’s history to be killed in the line of duty.
Christopher David Fitzgerald, 31, unexpectedly was called home to our Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Temple University Hospital. He was born in Philadelphia, PA, and is a graduate of Stafford (TX) High School before attending Stephen F. Austin University. At the age of 19 Christopher began his career as a jailer in the City of Sugar Land (TX) Police Department until moving back to Pennsylvania to work as a Lehigh County (PA) corrections officer. In 2017 he entered the City of Philadelphia Police Academy (class #384). Upon graduation, he served as a police officer for the Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department before matriculating to the Philadelphia Sheriff's Department. In 2021, he joined the Temple University Police Department where he served the community with distinction, as a recipient of the 2022 Officer of the Year award. Chris was an avid Philly sports fan, and was known for his humor and community service, spending much of his time off running through the most violent neighborhoods in Philadelphia to address the gun violence epidemic among other volunteer efforts. He was as a loving and dedicated father who devoted their life to his loving wife Marissa, and their children, Giselle, Julian, Armani, and Autumn. Christopher is also survived by his mother, Pauline Fitzgerald; his father, Joel Fitzgerald, Sr.; his brother, Joel Fitzgerald, Jr.; his sister, Dalaney Fitzgerald; grandmothers, Dorothy Fitzgerald and Evelyn Marrero; great grandmother, Elena, and a plethora of loving relatives, consisting of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces from the Marrero, Garcia, Fitzgerald, King, Lassiter and Hicks families. Relatives and friends are invited to Chris' Life Celebration visitation on Thursday February 23rd from 5:30PM – 9PM at the John F. Givnish Life Celebration Home (10975 Academy Road, Philadelphia PA 19154) and on Friday February 24th from 8AM – 11:30AM at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter & St. Paul (1723 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19103) with Words or Remembrance to start at 11:30AM and a Prayer Service to begin at 12PM; Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the link below would be greatly appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/f/police-officer-chris-fitzgerald Please use the link below to access the LiveStream for P/O Christopher D. Fitzgerald's service on Friday February 24th. https://vimeo.com/event/2903207 Published by John F Givnish Funeral Home - Academy Rd on Feb. 22, 2023.
