PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hundreds of people Thursday night paid their respects to fallen Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, waiting in lines that lasted hours.
The line of mourners was so long throughout the evening, it went out the John F. Givnish Funeral Home door and around the corner.
Thursday gave family, friends, fellow officers and the public the first chance to say goodbye to the officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty Saturday night just outside the Temple campus.
Yolanda Novoa, the widow of Philadelphia Police Sgt. Jose Novoa who died in June of 2020 from COVID-19, said she came out to support Officer Fitzgerald’s loved ones.
“It’s a family. You know, when my husband died … it’s a family. And they support each other,” said Novoa.
“My prayers are with his wife and children and his family. This is heartbreaking,” said Desirea Rice, who waited in line to give support to the officer’s family.
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All around her, dozens of law enforcement officers from Temple, Philadelphia, and beyond crowded the funeral home.
Parked cars and patrol motorcycles lined the streets, while some community members walked a few blocks up Academy Road to get in line.
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“Put the guns down. We just have to start loving each other again,” said Rice.
“This is so crazy. He was a baby, a young officer helping his community,” said Novoa. “He leaves behind a whole family. This is ridiculous. The killing needs to stop.”
The second viewing will take place Friday morning starting at 8:00 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City, followed by the funeral.