Trial Begins for Bucks County Man Accused of Killing Temple University Officer

The trial of Miles Pfeffer, an 18-year-old from Bucks County, who is accused of murdering Temple University Police Sergeant Christopher Fitzgerald, is underway in Philadelphia. Pfeffer allegedly shot Fitzgerald multiple times during a confrontation near Temple's campus after ignoring the officer's commands and engaging in a fight. Prosecutors argue the shooting was deliberate, while the defense claims Pfeffer acted out of fear. Following the shooting, Pfeffer reportedly carjacked a vehicle and fled to his home in Bucks County, where he was arrested the next day. Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old husband and father of four, was fatally wounded and later pronounced dead at Temple Hospital; the area of the incident has since been named Christopher Fitzgerald Way. The case has drawn attention, including criticism of the decision not to pursue the death penalty, and testimony from witnesses including the student who was carjacked and Pfeffer's younger brother is ongoing.