18 Year Old Suspect Arrested In Slaying Of University Police Officer

THE PHILADELPHIA — Authorities said they had arrested an 18-year-old suspect in the death of a Temple University police officer who was shot and killed Saturday night near campus after he allegedly tried to stop a carjacking.

The suspect was caught around 7 a.m. Sunday at his home in Buckingham Township by township, Philadelphia, state, and federal police, according to the office of the district attorney in Bucks County.

“Police used the deceased officer’s handcuffs to arrest the suspect,” prosecutors said, adding that Philadelphia and university police would release more information.

Officials at Temple University identified the slain officer as Christopher David Fitzgerald, who had been with the university police force since October 2021. He was shot shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday, according to authorities, and was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital. According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, the officer “tried to intervene in a carjacking,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Officer Fitzgerald gave his life to selflessly serve and defend this community,” Jennifer Griffin, vice president for public safety at the university, said in a statement. “This loss has left a huge void in all of our hearts. He was a father, husband, son, coworker, and friend.”

Jason Wingard, the president of the university, said he was “heartbroken” and called the shooting “a gut-wrenching reminder of the bravery and sacrifices our police officers make every day to protect our students, faculty, staff, and community” at a time when the city and the country are facing an “unprecedented epidemic of violence.”

Police Used The Deceased Officer’s Handcuffs To Arrest The Suspect

According to Ken Kaiser, Temple’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, it was the first shooting death of a campus officer in his more than 30 years at the university. “It just shakes everyone to their core,” he explained.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he and First Lady Lori were “devastated for the family of the Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty tonight, bravely serving his community.”

“May his memory be a blessing,” he said, adding that they sent prayers to his family, Temple police, and the university community.

Joseph Regan, who is the head of the Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, also sent his condolences.

“There are no words to describe the news that yet another suspect of our officers has been shot,” Regan said in a statement. “This officer is a hero whose legacy and selfless act will live on in our hearts and memories for the rest of our lives.”

According to the Inquirer, this was the first fatal shooting of an on-duty suspect police officer in Philadelphia since 2020.

SOURCE – (AP)