Pathetic Philly DA refuses to seek death penalty in execution-style killing of Temple University police officer

PHILADELPHIA, PA- The family of a Temple University police officer executed by a suspect in February, 2023 on the edge of the university campus is slamming far-left district attorney Larry Krasner after he announced his office would not pursue the death penalty in the case. 

Chris Fitzgerald, 31, the married father of five, was trying to stop teenagers from committing a carjacking when the suspect, then-18-year-old Miles Pfeffer shot him six times in the head, an execution that was captured on the slain officer’s body-worn camera. 

Fitzgerald’s family has been pressing Krasner to sentence Pfeffer to invoke the death penalty ever since, however found out this week that Krasner, who as a typical liberal takes the side of criminals, would not be pursuing the death penalty, Fox News Digital reports. 

“As a uniformed police officer in the city of Philadelphia–volunteering his time off duty away from his family to give back, for someone like that, who made us so proud as a family, to be struck down in the streets of Philadelphia and for the district attorney to decide that this isn’t worthy of–a judge or jury to consider the death penalty as a means of punishment for this offense is reprehensible,” Joel Fitzgerald, Christopher’s father and a five-time police chief told Fox News Digital. The Fitzgerald’s are pressing for Krasner to be recalled. 

Fitzgerald said that as a law enforcement professional, his family “knows and understands the legal system.” 

“Imagine what happens every day to families across Philadelphia,” he said. 

The way in which Pfeffer killed Officer Fitzgerald is especially heinous and depraved. 

Fox News Digital reported at the time that Fitzgerald engaged in a foot pursuit of the suspects. He caught up to Pfeffer and ordered him to the ground, police said. Pfeffer ignored Fitzgerald, instead pulling a gun and shooting the officer in the head and torso. As Fitzgerald lay motionless on the ground, Pfeffer shot him in the head three times from point blank range. 

Pfeffer initially fled the scene, however returned minutes later to rifle through Fitzgerald’s pockets and also attempted to steal his gun. After the shooting, Pfeffer carjacked a driver at gunpoint and threatened to shoot and kill them, police said. But Krasner doesn’t feel this rises to the level of a death penalty case. 

Pfeffer was charged with murder, murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, carjacking, possession of an instrument of crime, and a number of other charges, the DA’s office said at the time. He was arrested the day after the murder in his hometown of Buckingham Township. 

Officer Fitzgerald’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against Pfeffer’s parents, and his mother’s boyfriend claims that Pfeffer’s mother picked him up in Philadelphia after the shooting and drove him home. 

Fitzgeralds’ family fears that Krasner will attempt a plea deal with Pfeffer for third-degree murder instead of first-degree to avoid a jury trial and to implement his (Krasner’s) “own agenda,” Joel Fitzgerald said. 

“What we’re very conscious of now is [Krasner’s] ineffectiveness and his inability to allow citizens to make the decision. He’s taken that decision out of their hands. And if it can happen to us, it can happen to you,” Fitzgerald said, referring to Krasner as “problematic.” 

Krasner’s office is defending the decision not to seek the death penalty for Christopher Fitzgerald’s murderer, saying Krasner has been “consistent with his oath to seek justice and uphold the law” and “will not seek the death penalty in the case of Miles Pfeffer, who murdered Police Officer Fitzgerald.” 

“This decision was made after extensive input over many hours from the family of Officer Fitzgerald [which he clearly ignored], and from experts. The members of the DAO committee that considers possible death penalty matters include attorneys with a cumulative total of hundreds of years of homicide and other criminal trial and appeal experience,” Dustin Slaughter, Krasner’s spokesperson, said. DAO refers to a committee Krasner created to give the appearance of actually considering potential death penalty cases. 

Slaughter claimed the committee “reviewed all aspects of the case itself and all obtainable information on the defendant prior to making their recommendations to DA Krasner, who made the final determination.” 

“The input of the family is deeply appreciated and was carefully considered by the committee [and ignored] and DA Krasner prior to his decision. The DAO looks forward to continuing to support the family’s needs and to vigorously prosecuting this terrible murder,” Slaughter said. 

What the family needs is for this pathetic dirtbag to be put to death, but Krasner, who loves him some criminals, refuses to do so. It should be noted for those wondering that the suspect Pfeffer is a white male. 

Meanwhile Christopher Fitzgerald’s widow, Marissa, told Fox News Digital that “it is important for all of the city of Philadelphia to know how Larry [Krasner] handles cases that are so heinous like this.” 

“He’s basically sending a message that it’s OK for you to brutally execute not only a police officer, but a family man–a husband, a father, a son, a brother–and you’ll get a slap on the wrist. And it’s stating that he doesn’t care what we want as victims,” she said. 

Under TItle 42, Subchapter B of the Pennsylvania statutes, in sentencing decisions, a number of aggravating and mitigating factors must be considered. One of the aggravating factors is if a victim “was a firefighter, peace officer…law enforcement official in the performance of his duties, who was killed in the performance of his duties or as a result of his official position.” 

Another aggravating factor is if “the defendant committed a killing while in the perpetration of a felony.” 

The only possible “mitigating factor” was if “the defendant has no significant history of prior criminal convictions.” It is unknown if Pfeffer had a history or not, but it appears that shooting a police officer three times in the head point blank far outweighs any possible “mitigating” factor. 

Meanwhile Christopher’s widow and his children are living a “nightmare,” she said, adding that for Krasner to drag them “through the mud like this is disgusting, it’s distasteful, and the citizens of Philadelphia need to know what kind of DA they have on their hands.” The family is calling for Krasner’s recall. 

In response to Krasner’s decision, the Temple University Police Association called him a “disgrace” in a statement posted to their Facebook page.

“The disgrace of District Attorney Larry Krasner, will NOT seek the death penalty in the murder case of our hero, Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald,” the association wrote. “Absolutely devastating news for the Fitzgerald family and law enforcement officers throughout Philadelphia.” 

They also posted the following on X:

Krasner has long been opposed to the death penalty, a position newly embraced by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. 

“Given Governor Shapiro’s previous and consistent support for upholding the death penalty as Attorney General, today’s announcement that Shapiro now opposes the death penalty is a very welcome and encouraging evolution in his position,” Shapiro wrote in a statement last year. 

Krasner claimed his office found that 72% of Philadelphia death penalty cases were “ultimately overturned,” his office said in a press release. 

“The death penalty in Pennsylvania overwhelmingly applies to black and brown defendants [who offend exponentially more than whites], mentally impaired defendants, and poor defendants who cannot afford legal counsel and are assigned court-appointed lawyers. It does not do what the law requires–apply the ultimate penalty to the worst offenders who commit the worst homicides [gee, like shooting a cop point blank in the head three times?]. Rather, it applies the ultimate penalty to the poorest and most impaired defendants,” Krasner said at the time. 

Apparently Krasner’s position has “evolved” also. 

Gianno Caldwell, founder of the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety and a Fox News analyst, where Joel Fitzgerald serves as a board member, released a statement Wednesday which says the Fitzgerald family is asking “Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry to empower newly appointed Special Prosecutor Michale Untermeyer to adopt the case.” 

“Police unions, including the Philadelphia FOP Lodge 5, Temple University Police Association, and the PA State FOP, have also joined in condemning the fact that Krasner will not seek the death penalty in this case; to not give judge or jury even the option for considering death in this heinous crime is asinine,” Caldwell said. 

Caldwell’s younger brother was fatally shot in Chicago in June 2022 and he noted that in Philadelphia, “murders have increased every year Krasner has been in office. (A staggering 57% increase in murders compared to pre-pandemic numbers.)” 

He also noted violent crimes including carjackings and armed robberies, along with burglaries have likewise increased since 2020 under Krasner’s reign.