Temple University accuses police officer of allegedly trying to rob dead officer before fleeing: reports

An 18-year-old Pennsylvania man is expected to be charged with murder after he allegedly shot and killed a Temple University police officer who was at work when he was killed outside the school’s campus on Saturday night, according to reports.

Miles Pfeffer of Buckingham Township, Pennsylvania, has been transferred to Philadelphia after U.S. Marshals and Bucks County Police took him into custody for the murder of Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office said.

The Temple University Police Association tweeted that when Pfeffer was arrested, he was being restrained with the handcuffs of a fallen officer.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY POLICE STATED IN HANDCuffED FALLEN OFFICER RECEIVED IN SHOOTING SUSPECT SHOOTING, POLICE SAYS

The shooting occurred near Montgomery Avenue and 18th Street in North Philadelphia when a police officer was trying to intervene in a car theft, Philadelphia’s Fox station WTXF, also known as Fox 29, said. During the intervention, a police officer, later identified as Chris Fitzgerald, was shot and killed. and later died at Temple University Hospital.

The fallen officer was a husband and father and was recruited into the army in October 2021.

Officials said 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer was captured handcuffed by a fallen officer. (US marshals)

Fox 29 obtained a copy of the sworn statement of probable cause and reported that the suspect was seen on video footage firing a handgun at an officer following a foot chase and physical confrontation.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY POLICE KILLED AT ACTIVITIES NEAR PHILADELPHIA CAMPUS

When Fitzgerald was shot, he fell to the ground, and the suspect stood over him and fired several more shots to the head and face, the affidavit says.

After the shooting, the suspect tried to take a pistol and a car from a police officer.

According to Fox 29, the suspect was heard to say, “Give me the keys or I’ll kill you,” right before getting into the car and leaving the scene.

His mother later picked him up near 29th Street and Ridge Avenue, according to the affidavit, before taking him home to Bucks County.

A local radio station said that Pfeffer’s brother was with him when the officer tried to stop the car theft, but law enforcement told the reporter that he hid in an alley during the confrontation.

Pfeffer faces a variety of charges, including the murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery and auto theft, officials said. He is not eligible for bail.

The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating the murder of an officer.

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

Twitter users supported the officer’s death in the line of duty.

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“Another hero taken from us by the atrocity of a violent criminal,” the Massachusetts State Police tweeted.

Fox News reporter Steven Soras contributed to this story.