BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Police officer shot dead after trying to stop robbery at a Philadelphia video game store as he shopped for a present for his son

Officer Robert Wilson III died Thursday after being shot in the head during an attempted robbery in North Philadelphia
Wilson exchanged gunfire with two suspects after the gunmen entered a video game store and announced a robbery
Two brothers are in custody, Wilson was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead at 6.25pm

A Philadelphia police officer was fatally shot Thursday during an attempted robbery at a GameStop on the city's north side.

Officer Robert Wilson III, 30, was shopping for a present for his son and in full uniform inside a North Philadelphia GameStop when two armed men entered the store and announced a robbery, ThePhiladelphia Inquirer reports.

Wilson immediately confronted the suspects, and the three exchanged gunfire, with the assailants firing rounds at close range on either side of the officer, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said in a news conference Thursday.

Officer: Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Wilson III, 30 (photographed), died Thursday after being shot in the head during an attempted robbery at a video-game store on the city's north side

Wilson was struck multiple times but continued to fire until he was fatally shot in the head, Ramsey said.

Wilson's partner was outside of the store and exchanged fire with one of the assailants. The second assailant fled and attempted to blend in with the crowd but was caught at the scene.

One was shot in the leg, Ramsey said, but it is unclear if the assailant was shot by Wilson or his partner.

They were identified as Ramone Williams, 26, and Carlton Hipps, 30.

Wilson was rushed to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6.25pm, NBC reports.

Wilson was an eight-year veteran of the department, a husband, and a father of two.

GameStop: Wilson was in full uniform inside a North Philadelphia GameStop (photographed) as part of his patrol duties when two armed men entered the store and announced a robbery

Struck: Wilson was struck multiple times but continued to fire until he was fatally shot in the head (here, Wilson's body is transported by ambulance to the Medical Examiner's Office)

Procession: A procession was held for the officer Thursday as his body was transported by ambulance to the Medical Examiner's Office

Never Forgotten: Department officials posted on the Philadelphia Police Department's Facebook page writing that Wilson's sacrifice will 'never, ever, be forgotten'

'Take a moment and say a prayer for this family,' Ramsey said. 'And this 9-year-old boy who will now grow up without a father. A 1-year-old is going to grow up without a dad because of what happened today.'

Authorities later found the suspect's weapons in the store: a .40-caliber and a 9mm.

Police say the brothers were repeat offenders and one was on parole at the time of the shooting.

The suspect who was shot was taken to a local hospital but his condition has not been released, NBC reports.

Wilson was a volunteer in the department's body-camera program but is was not immediately known if he was wearing one at the time of the shooting, Ramsey said. However, a surveillance camera in the store captured the incident.

The video has been reviewed by homicide investigators.

A procession was held for the officer Thursday as his body was transported by ambulance to the Medical Examiner's Office.

At the news conference, Ramsey said he knew the officer and described Wilson as a 'very, very brave, heroic individual.'

'People tend to lose sight of the dangers inherent in being a police officer,' Ramsey said.

'Sometimes they're seriously injured or even murdered as a result of trying to protect every single person in this city...He put his life on the line to make Philadelphia a better city and a safer city.'

Volunteer: Wilson (left) was a volunteer in the department's body-camera program but is was not immediately known if he was wearing one at the time of the shooting