Christopher Fitzgerald, Temple University police officer who was fatally shot while chasing a robber last week, will be honored at his funeral service on Saturday.
His family members – wife Marissa Fitzgerald, parents Dr. Joel Fitzgerald Sr and Pauline Fitzgerald, and four children – are expected to be there at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on 1723 Race Street in Center City.
Also Read | Who are Patrick Muiruri and Elizabeth Wangeci? Duo arrested in Kiambu County for slaughtering donkeys
Chris’ father Joel Fitzgerald is the former chief of Allentown police. Chris became a police officer in Texas, following in the footsteps of his father.
Officer Fitzgerald’s wife could barely get the words out as she stood before the crowd wearing her husband’s jacket. “My family will never be the same. I will never be the same,” said Marissa Fitzgerald.
Also Read | Who is Jenelle Evans? Ex-girlfriend of arrested Teen Mom star Nathan Griffith
Her emotional and tearful speech gained a few laughs as she shared stories of her husband’s love for the school. “We were watching the Temple basketball team play in my hometown of Houston. We were fighting because he knew that Temple was going to win… and y’all did,” she said.
Fitzgerald has two girls and two boys between the ages of 7 to 13 with Marissa. The grieving children even curled up with their loved ones as they spoke of Fitzgerald’s legacy.
Fitzgerald was an avid runner, father, and family man but being a cop was one of the highlights of his life, his family says.
“Each of you students, each of you faculty members that benefitted from guns being taken off the streets, he did that for you. He did that at the pearl of his life. He was murdered doing that for every student here,” said Joel Fitzgerald.
Also Read | Leon Ramsarran desription: Amber Alert issued for 3-year-old missing from his Lakeville home, Minnesota
Joel Fitzgerald hopes justice will be served.
Fitzgerald was going to take his family out for breakfast Sunday morning and he begged Marissa to stay with him the morning of his death. Merissa even made chocolate chip waffles instead of running some errands.
