Officials to provide more details on fatal shooting of Temple police officer

Police officers are expected to release more details about the shooting that killed Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald. Ross DeMatte is live at that shooting scene this morning where there is a growing memorial for Officer Fitzgerald. Good morning Ross. Sorry about that Natasha. Already this morning we have seen quite a few families, locals as well as police officers stopping by the memorial here for Officer Christopher Fitzgerald. Many of them have taken a minute to bow their heads, most likely in prayer. Some of them even saying a few words of thanks to this officer who gave his life protecting this community.

Now all day yesterday, this is really a continuation of what we saw all day yesterday with family members, Temple students and fellow law enforcement officers coming here to the corner of 17th and Montgomery streets to pay their respects to Officer Fitzgerald. Investigators say the married father of four was fatally shot while trying to stop 18 year old robbery suspect Miles Pfeffer who disregarded the officer's commands. According to the probable cause after David, Fitzgerald repeatedly told the suspects to get on the ground, but that male suspect fired a handgun at the officer who then fell to the ground. The man then allegedly stood over Fitzgerald and fired several more shots into his face and head area before reaching down and trying to take the officer's service weapon but couldn't seem to get it out of the holster. Fitzgerald family tells CBS News Philadelphia that the 31 year old began his career in law enforcement at just 19 years old as a corrections officer before training for the police force Fitzgerald's cousin says he was his hero, but now he's left mourning the loss of his role model. He's anything I wanted to be. I wanted to be like him so much.

How I dressed, how I acted, shoes I wore. Everything I wanted to be wanted to be like him. Played basketball with him. It's just heartbreaking because I can't get that back. They took they took somebody, somebody special, somebody special. And back out here live again, we are expecting to learn more about the investigation in the office of Fitzgerald's death during a press conference this morning with the mayor's office as well as the district attorney's office that is scheduled to get started at 10 a.m.

And we will stream that for you live on CBS News Philadelphia. Natasha back to you. Thank you very much. We do appreciate that again. As Ross just said, you can watch today's news conference live on our streaming service. It's set for 10 a.m.

You can watch that on the CBS News app Pluto TV Paramount Plus or right on the homepage of our website and of course stayed with CBS News Philadelphia for continuing coverage of this ongoing investigation. And here are the details for the funeral arrangements that we've received for Officer Fitzgerald. There will be two viewings this week, one on Thursday evening at Givnish Funeral Home on Academy Road, then another on Friday morning at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Ray Street. A memorial service will follow that viewing before the officer's body is laid to rest in Huntington Valley.

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