PHILADELPHIA — A suspect has been arrested within the taking pictures dying of a Temple College police officer who was the son of a former Allentown police chief.
The officer was shot and killed close to campus Saturday evening after reportedly attempting to intervene in a carjacking, college police union officers stated.
The U.S. Marshals who took the suspect into custody have recognized the fallen officer as Christopher Fitzgerald, in response to our information accomplice, WPVI. He was the son of former Allentown Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald.
The Temple College Police Affiliation confirmed Sunday in a Twitter submit that “a suspect has been taken into custody for the homicide of certainly one of our cops.” The group stated it had been instructed “that the arrest was made utilizing our fallen officer’s handcuffs.”
Temple College earlier stated in a press release that the officer was shot whereas attempting to apprehend a theft suspect and was later pronounced lifeless on the college hospital. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw stated the officer “tried to intervene in a carjacking,” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
College President Jason Wingard stated he was “heartbroken” and known as the taking pictures “a gut-wrenching reminder of our cops’ each day bravery and sacrifices to guard our college students, school, workers and group” as town and the nation cope with “an unprecedented epidemic of violence.”
Ken Kaiser, the college’s senior vp and chief working officer, was quoted by The Philadelphia Inquirer as saying it was the primary taking pictures dying of a campus officer throughout his greater than 30 years at Temple. “It simply shakes all people to the core,” he stated.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro tweeted that he and first girl Lori have been “devastated for the household of the Temple College police officer who was killed within the line of obligation tonight, bravely serving his group.”
They despatched prayers to his household, Temple police and the college group, he added, saying, “Could his reminiscence be a blessing.”
Joseph Regan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, additionally expressed condolences.
“There are not any phrases to explain the information of one other certainly one of our officers being shot,” Regan stated in a press release. “This officer is a hero whose legacy and unselfish act will reside in our hearts and reminiscences without end.”
It was the primary deadly taking pictures of an on-duty police officer in Philadelphia since 2020, in response to the Inquirer.
In 2014, Fitzgerald was arrested in Lehigh County for allegedly pointing gun at two undercover detectives throughout a highway rage incident. He was acquitted by a jury.