What to Know
- A vandal spray-painted a mural dedicated to slain Philadelphia Police Sergeant Robert Wilson III.
- The mural is located on the 2900 block of Ridge Avenue.
- Wilson was killed in a shootout with armed robbers inside a North Philadelphia GameStop in 2015.
An investigation is underway after a vandal spray-painted a mural of a slain Philadelphia Police sergeant.
On Thursday around 11:30 a.m., police responded to the 2900 block of Ridge Avenue for a report of a vandalism. When they arrived, they found the letters “ACAB” and other messages spray-painted over a mural of Philadelphia Police Sergeant Robert Wilson III.
Wilson was killed in March 2015 while attempting to thwart a robbery inside a North Philadelphia GameStop. He was inside the store to buy a birthday gift for his son and engaged in a fierce gun battle with the two robbers while diverting gunfire away from innocent bystanders.
The two gunmen, Carlton Hipps and Ramone Williams, were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 50 to 100 years. Wilson's family expressed outrage after learning the two men avoided the death penalty and accepted a deal from the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Wilson's sister Shaki'ra Wilson-Burroughs released a statement on the vandalism while also criticizing Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
"One year ago, the DA of this city set this tone of disrespect for the city by slighting Sgt. Wilson, III by offering a backdoor plea and denying him a trial," she said. "If the DA, top persecutor of this city, can tarnish the efforts and life of a slain officer while backing criminals then, why should any other layman warrant any real respect and keep their memory alive? Stating this is not to take away from the shaming and defacement of Sgt. Wilson's mural. It has enhanced the ignorance and disrespect shown toward our officers as the consequences of such are as minuscule as a slap on the wrist."
The mural for Wilson was created last year.
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“It’s sickening and disgusting that some low-life would deface the mural of hero and fallen-officer, Robert Wilson III,” Philadelphia FOP Lodge #5 President John McNesby said Thursday. “We will never forget Rob’s bravery, courage and valor when he saved lives inside that GameStop store.”
FOP Lodge #5 is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information on the vandalism, please call Philadelphia Police.
