Temple students, police remember fallen officer Chris Fitzgerald
Good evening everyone, I'm Yuki Washington. I'm Jessica Cartaglia. Officer Fitzgerald was shot and killed Saturday night while on patrol. An 18-year-old from Bucks County is now charged with his murder. Tonight on Temple's campus, the bell tower is lit in blue to honor the slain officer. Students are leaving candles and balloons and writing messages as they try to process the loss. Alicia Roberts has more on the tributes as well as where the investigation stands tonight.
Today, students joined members of the Philadelphia and Temple University police departments to remember Officer Chris Fitzgerald. Students, fellow officers and community members laid flowers and lit candles to mark the place where Officer Chris Fitzgerald was killed Saturday night. It's a loss that we can't measure in any capacity. Neighbor in 22nd District Captain Michael Goodson is a close friend of Fitzgerald's parents, who both previously worked for the Philadelphia Police Department. Though we wear the uniform as police officers, the commonalities that we're all human beings. Fitzgerald's family tells CBS Philadelphia 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. Everything I wanted to be wanted to be like him.
It's just hard-breaking because I can't get that back. They took somebody special. Investigators say the married father of four was fatally shot while trying to stop 18-year-old robbery suspect Miles Pfeffer. An affidavit of probable cause shows Fitzgerald is heard repeatedly on security camera video telling the suspect to get on the ground. But quote, the male suspect is then seen firing a handgun at police officer Fitzgerald, who falls to the ground. The male then stands over Fitzgerald, who fires several more shots into his face and head area. It's just horrible.
It's horrible in every aspect. Temple student Joe Vilsakis lives near where Fitzgerald was killed and says this senseless loss has many questioning, even when the violence will end. People are just super down. Like the morale is low right now at Temple. Morale is very low at Temple. It's a hard thing to like, to realize that like this can happen to anyone. And the fact that it hits this close to home.
Miles Pfeffer is currently being held without bail on murder charges. Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., the mayor and district attorney will hold a joint press conference on the investigation into officer Fitzgerald's death. We will stream it for you live Alicia Robert CBS News, Philadelphia.
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