The tearful widow of the Temple University officer who was shot dead while patrolling the streets of Philadelphia over the weekend said he kissed her goodbye, told her he loved her and he’d be right back.
But Christopher Fitzgerald never came back. He was shot dead on duty on Saturday night.
Fitzgerald’s widow, Marissa, was out running errands when she received the call that he had been shot. She sobbed as she recalled his last words to her, adding that his four young children will miss their father so much and that he will always be “our greatest hero”.
Officer Fitzgerald was doing the job he loved and serving his community to make it a better place, his family said when he was shot in the head along Montgomery Avenue in North Philadelphia.
Miles Pfeffer, 18, was arrested Sunday morning in connection with the shooting at his Philadelphia home. He was charged with murder on Monday and is on bail.
Marissa Fitzgerald, the widow of Temple University official Christopher Fitzgerald, who was shot dead while patrolling the streets of Philadelphia, recalled his last words to him
Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, 31, was allegedly shot dead by 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer, 18, on Saturday night, who has been charged with a number of charges
The murdered police officer’s family, including his widow, Marissa, and his father, Dr. Denver’s RTD Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald Sr. sat down for an interview with NBC10’s Karen Hua.
“He gave me a kiss and told me he loved me. And I said, ‘I love you too.’ And when he walked out the door, he said he’d be right back,” Marissa said. ‘He said, ‘I’ll be right back, baby.’
Fitzgerald took the fateful extra shift on Saturday, and before leaving the house he promised he’d take his family over for breakfast on Sunday morning. The officer leaves four children between the ages of 7 and 13.
“My kids will always know who their father is,” Marissa said. “Your father is a hero and he is our greatest hero.”
His youngest daughter, his “princess,” was curled up during the interview with her grandfather, her eyes red from crying.
“They miss their father so much,” she said after describing how Fitzgerald was a fool who loved his children.
Marissa added, “I’ll try to be as strong as possible because I know that’s what he wanted. I’ll make sure they know who their father was. You already know. He’s the greatest hero we could ever have.”
Fitzgerald took the fateful extra shift on Saturday, and before leaving the house he promised he’d take his family over for breakfast on Sunday morning. The officer leaves four children between the ages of 7 and 13
Video footage from Action News captured Fitzgerald’s final moments doing what he loved – serving and protecting the community
Marissa and his father Dr. Joel Fitzgerald Sr. also spoke about Fitzgerald’s legacy and that he died doing what he loved.
“He really wanted to make a change for the city so the people would be safe and the kids would be safe,” Marissa said. “My husband wasn’t a bad person, he was such a good man and a good cop…a great cop.”
His father, who is also a law enforcement officer, is demanding justice.
“He wanted to do it because he knew it was his way of giving back to our community,” said Joel Fitzgerald.
He added, “Chris was adamant that he could stay in Philadelphia and facilitate change. Although we are devastated, we could never be prouder.”
Marissa then delivered a message for her husband’s alleged killer.
“He took a family man, he took a father, he took a son, he took a brother, he took a nephew, you took so much,” she said. “Our life will never be the same again.”
‘You had no right, you’re a coward, you’re evil, I know what you did to my husband, you shouldn’t even be allowed to breathe because my husband isn’t breathing, but you’re allowed to let air flow through your lungs,’ you said.
“I hope he’s haunted for the rest of his life, I hope he rots in a cell.”
Pepper, who is facing a slew of charges, is also accused of kidnapping a driver and abandoning the car in another part of Philadelphia after the shooting. He was then driven by his mother to the family home, where he was later arrested.
“Your mother who picked you up should be charged…we’ll make sure we have justice,” Marissa said.
Miles Pfeffer, 18, was arrested on Sunday after being accused of fatally shooting Temple University officer Chris Fitzgerald, 31, in the head
Miles Pfeffer, 18, is accused of shooting Temple University police officer Chris Fitzgerald, 31, multiple times before searching his pockets and attempting to steal his gun
Chris Fitzgerald (pictured) is the son of Joel Fitzgerald, who was Allenstown Police Chief for two years from 2013. He was father of four children
Less than 12 hours after the shooting, police arrested Pfeffer at his family’s home in Buckingham Township – an affluent rural area north of Philadelphia.
According to the US Marshals, he was handcuffed as part of a tradition honoring fallen police officers Fitzgerald.
Pfeffer is charged with murder, the murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, theft auto and gun crime in the death of Officer Fitzgerald, the Philadelphia Attorney’s Office said.