A Bucks County man, Miles Pfeffer, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with an additional term of 22 and a half to 45 years, for the 2023 fatal shooting of Temple University officer Christopher Fitzgerald. Pfeffer, who is now 20 years old, was convicted of first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm. The incident occurred when he was just 18 years old.
According to the prosecution, on February 18, 2023, Fitzgerald was shot in the head by Pfeffer when he tried to intercept Pfeffer and his accomplices suspected of involvement in a robbery near the campus. Surveillance footage presented during the trial showed Pfeffer shooting Fitzgerald in the head and torso multiple times after he fell to the ground. Fitzgerald was later pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital. Pfeffer fled the scene and was arrested at his home in Buckingham Township, Bucks County the next day, where he was suspected of carjacking.
The jury swiftly reached a guilty verdict in less than 20 minutes. The defense attorney attempted to reduce the charges to third-degree murder, arguing that the shooting was not intentional, but the jury and Judge Glenn Bronson rejected the plea.
“Murdering a police officer is the most serious crime,” Judge Bronson stated during sentencing. “You took away a great life, all due to senseless violence.”
The late Officer Fitzgerald was 31 years old, a father of four, and a vocal advocate against gun violence. His passing shook the Philadelphia community and law enforcement nationwide. His widow, Marissa Fitzgerald, emotionally spoke in court, vowing never to forgive Pfeffer: “He did not break me; I am still standing.”
The Fitzgerald family expressed dissatisfaction with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s decision not to seek the death penalty. Joel Fitzgerald, the father, a former police chief in multiple locations, stated, “At least this punishment sends a clear message.”
In remembrance of the fallen officer, the area where the incident took place, Montgomery Avenue block 1700, has been renamed “Christopher Fitzgerald Way.”