Brothers charged with murder in slaying of Philadelphia police officer

Two brothers from Philadelphia have been charged with murder in the killing of a police officer during a gun battle on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Ramone Williams, 24, and Carlton Hipps, 29, were each charged with murder, attempted murder, robbery and weapons offenses in the shooting death of Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Wilson, the department said in a statement Friday.

Williams and Hipps entered a GameStop store in the northern part of the city around 4:30 p.m. Thursday and announced they were robbing it, city Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told reporters.

Wilson was in full uniform, though it was not clear why he was in the store. On Thursday, Ramsey said he did not think Williams and Hipps knew Wilson was a police officer or that he was in the store.

The brothers and Wilson exchanged gunfire, and the 30-year-old officer was struck several times, police said. Wilson’s partner also exchanged gunfire with the suspects, wounding Hipps, police said.

Wilson died of his injuries at a hospital two hours after the shooting. He was an eight-year veteran of the department and is survived by his grandmother and two children, ages 9 and 1.

“I knew him, had met him. He was one of the best police officers this city has to offer. Period,” Ramsey said. “A very, very brave, heroic individual.”

Hipps was convicted on robbery and weapons offenses in 2004, according to city court records.

Ramsey said both men had criminal records and one was on probation at the time of the shooting.

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