Massachusetts State Police are honoring fallen Philadelphia police officer Robert Wilson III, who was killed a week ago trying to stop an armed robbery at a video game store in North Philadelphia.
The state police team is playing Philadelphia in a police hockey tournament Thursday in Boston. The Massachusetts team plan to give their Philadelphia colleagues a hockey sweater bearing the name of Wilson.
The 30-year-old father of two was shot March 5 at a GameStop store near 22nd Street and Lehigh Avenue. He had gone to the Hope Plaza Shopping Center to buy a video game as a gift for his son, a reward for good school grades. Monday was the boy's 10th birthday.
Wilson and his partner were both in full uniform when the two armed men entered GameStop around 4:30 p.m. March 5 and announced a robbery.
The 8-year police veteran died from his injuries at Temple University Hospital at 6:25 p.m.
Two brothers, 30-year-old Carlong Hipps and 26-year-old Ramone Williams, are facing murder charges in the crime.
In the days that followed Wilson's death, a Hollywood actor, a gaming community in California and the GameStop chain have drawn attention to a fund for the slain officer's family.
Boston U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch will present a flag to the Philadelphia police at the pregame ceremony, which includes a state police honor guard and pipe and drums performance.
The Irish American Ice Hockey Association Games draw police teams from as far as Switzerland.
