As Philadelphia Police and the community continue to mourn Officer Robert Wilson III, the Philadelphia District Attorney has begun to assemble the legal case against the two brothers charged in his death. Now there are questions regarding whether or not the two suspects will face the death penalty.
Wilson, a 30-year-old father of two, was killed during a robbery at the GameStop on Lehigh Avenue in North Philadelphia last Thursday.
Wilson was in full uniform when brothers Carlton Hipps, 30, and Ramone Williams, 26, entered the GameStop store inside and announced the robbery, subsequently sparking a "fierce and violent" gun battle that ended with the officer being shot in the head and killed, according to officials.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey was recently asked if he felt the two brothers should face the death penalty.
“Well obviously that’s up to a jury,” Ramsey said. “But in my view, yes.”
Ramsey’s response came only a few weeks after Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced a statewide moratorium on the death penalty. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams was among the officials who asked for a review of that decision.
Wednesday night, Williams told NBC10 the death penalty will be an option available to prosecutors in the case against the two suspects if appropriate. For now however, investigators are still compiling evidence.
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During a vigil outside Officer Wilson’s West Philadelphia home Wednesday, one neighbor said an apology from the suspects would go a long way.
“To come out and tell everybody it’s the wrong way,” said Gerald Haygood. “Send a message out. I want to hear it from them.”
