The family of a Temple University police officer killed on the job last year is calling for the death penalty for his alleged murderer, a Bucks County teenager.
“It meets every threshold of the death penalty, and I will tell you that we’re waiting with bated breath to hear from the district attorney to see what they decide to do,” said Joel Fitzgerald, whose son Christopher was killed, according to WPVI-TV.
Fitzgerald family members spoke following a brief court appearance Tuesday for Miles Pfeffer, 19, who waived his right to a preliminary hearing on murder and related charges.
“He’s disgusting. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. No empathy. Just an evil human being. Just an evil individual that has no regard for life,” said Marissa Fitzgerald, who wore her late husband’s Temple jacket to court.
Pfeffer, of Buckingham, was 18 when he was charged with the murder of Fitzgerald, 31, in what was the Temple University police department’s first line-of-duty death.
Fitzgerald was on patrol alone when he placed a radio call that he was in pursuit of three individuals dressed in black and masks shortly after 7:12 pm. Feb. 19,. 2023 near the North Philadelphia campus.