New Details Emerge On Bucks Co. Teen Accused Of Killing Police Officer

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA - A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 7 in Philadelphia for the Bucks County teenager accused of murdering on-duty Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald on Saturday.

Meanwhile more is coming out about Pfeffer, who had been arrested in early 2022 by Warrington Township Police for making a bomb threat against Central Bucks High School South in the fall of 2021, multiple news outlets are reporting.

Pfeffer, law enforcement sources tell the Philadelphia Inquirer, was one of three juvenile suspects arrested for making the threat that led to lock downs and early dismissals. That threat was made on Nov. 16, 2021 through the Safe2Say Program.

Warrington Township Police said they had received multiple calls related to suspected threats at the high school by 9:49 a.m. that morning. Officers and a K-9 unit conducted a dangerous device sweep during a high school lockdown, after which students were dismissed under police supervision.

Pfeffer attended Central Bucks Schools until 2019. He then enrolled at the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology in September 2020 and was actively enrolled as of February 16, 2023, school officials said.

"Our thoughts are with the officer’s family and the grieving Temple University community," said a spokesperson for MBIT. "We will have additional personnel on site this week to provide counseling resources and other support to our school community."

The 18-year-old Pfeffer was arrested at his home on Quarry Drive in Buckingham Township on Sunday morning. He was arraigned in Philadelphia on Monday on first-degree murder charges and was remanded to the Philadelphia Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility.

According to authorities, on Saturday at approximately 7:12 p.m. Temple Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald was heard over police radio stating that he was in foot pursuit. Temple Police Officers responded and located Officer Fitzgerald on the 1700 block of Montgomery Avenue suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the face and upper torso. He was immediately transported to Temple University Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced at 7:27 pm.

Officer Fitzgerald had attempted to stop three individuals in the 1700 block of West Montgomery Avenue in Philadelphia, authorities said. The suspects fled on foot with Officer Fitzgerald in pursuit.

One of the suspects, later identified as Pfeffer, disregarded Officer Fitzgerald’s orders and a struggle ensued, authorities said. Officer Fitzgerald was shot by the suspect and later pronounced deceased at Temple University Hospital.

Pfeffer is alleged to have shot Officer Fitzgerald in the head, killing him. Pfeffer is also alleged to have attempted to rob Officer Fitzgerald of his gun and to have gone through his pockets, while the officer was laying on the ground and fatally wounded. Pfeffer is further alleged to have committed a carjacking a short time after, close to the location of the officer’s murder.

Pfeffer was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals and Bucks County law enforcement earlier Sunday morning at his home on Quarry Road in Buckingham Township.He was transferred to Philadelphia shortly after and was arrested by Philadelphia Police, which is leading the investigation.

A viewing for Fitzgerald is set for Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the John F. Givnish Funeral Home, 10975 Academy Rd., in Northeast Philadelphia. A second viewing on Friday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 1723 Race St., in Center City, will precede a Mass. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery, 101 Byberry Rd., Huntingdon Valley.