PHOTOS: Website and iPad visitors | Mobile visitors
"We are here to announce a tragedy this evening," Ferman began a press conference Thursday night.
Officer Brad Fox, 34, succumbed to his injures after being shot in the head responding to the hit-and-run crash, Ferman said.
The incident happened shortly before 6:00 p.m. near Conshohocken Road and Ernest Station Road.
Investigators say Fox and the suspect encountered one another along a bike path following the hit-and-run accident.
Fox's K-9 officer, Nick, was also shot in the incident, but survived.
The suspect, police say, was shot and killed at the scene.
Ferman said they believe he was alone in his car, but no further information on the incident was released.
"This was a senseless, senseless act for a car accident," Plymouth Township Police Chief Joseph Lawrence said.
Fox, a 7-year veteran of the force, graduated from the Philadelphia K-9 Unit in March.
Prior to joining the police force, Fox served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine.
"When he volunteered to go back to the second one, he didn't even tell his family he volunteered. He was that kind of a man. He wanted to protect them," Ferman said.
"Brad Fox is a hero as is every man or woman that puts any uniform on," Lawrence said.
Fox's death marked the first time a Plymouth Township police officer was killed in the line of duty.
"I think we all are in shock," Ferman said.
Fox leaves behind a wife, who is 3-months pregnant, and a young girl.
Ferman said this was a day that all of law enforcement wish they never have to experience.
"There are just no words that begin to express the magnitude of this tragedy for Officer Fox's family, for his wife, for his beautiful little girl, for his law enforcement family, the Plymouth Police Department, and the entire Montgomery County law enforcement family and community," Ferman said.
Fox was to turn 35 years old Friday.
As for the investigation, it remains very active according to D.A. Ferman. Authorities are working to ascertain what exactly led up to the tragic confrontation.
