Hundreds of loved ones, fellow officers and community members gathered at a North Philadelphia church Sunday morning to remember fallen hero Officer Robert Wilson III who was killed during a robbery at a GameStop nearby.
The mass was held at St. Martin De Porres Church on Lehigh Ave.
Rev. Stephen Thorne gave a heartfelt eulogy praising Officer Wilson and urging his community to come together and stop the violence.
He says even though he didn't know Wilson, his slaying impacts everyone.
"So caring, so nice of a person," said Wilson's neighbor Nicole Armstrong. "A wonderful father who always had his kids. Always, always. He's really going to be truly missed."
The 30-year-old father of two was killed during a robbery at a GameStop at Hope Plaza Shopping Center last Thursday.
Wilson was in full uniform when brothers Carlton Hipps, 30, and Ramone Williams, 26, entered the store and announced the robbery, subsiquently sparking a "fierce and violent" gunbattle that ended with the officer being shot in the head and killed, said Homicide Captain Darrell Clark.
"They were both firing at him," said Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. "He was actually being hit during the exchange of gunfire but he continued to fight, continued to shoot until the fatal wound was fired and it brought him down."
Wilson is being hailed a hero and is credited for saving the lives of customers and store employees, according to Ramsey.
"Everyone in the GameStop family will always remember Officer Wilson for his sacrifice while defending our staff and customers in the North Philadelphia GameStop store. The Company is thankful that due to the brave actions of Officer Wilson and the Philadelphia Police Department, all of our employees and customers are safe and unharmed," the store said in a news release Sunday.
Williams and Hipps are charged with his murder.