PHILADELPHIA — A police officer who went to a video game store to buy a gift for his 9-year-old son ended up in a gunbattle with would-be robbers, fighting to the end of his life to protect patrons and employees, a police captain said Friday.
Officer Robert Wilson III, 30, was on duty and at the counter of the GameStop store Thursday afternoon when two brothers armed with semi-automatic weapons entered. The officer turned, and “the gunfight was on,” said police homicide Capt. James Clark. All told, more than 50 shots were fired, investigators said.
“The officer was a hero and a warrior,” Clark said. “He fought to the very, very end, firing at both of them. Unfortunately, he lost his life.”
The brothers were identified Friday as Ramone Williams, 24, and Carlton Hipps, 29. Both had prior arrests, and police said Hipps had gotten out of prison in 2009. Both were charged with murder, attempted murder, robbery and related offenses.
