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Sergeant

Robert Francis Wilson III

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch March 5, 2015

Age 30

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 366 · Column 2 · Line 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 378

Incident

Police Officer Robert Wilson was shot and killed when he and his partner interrupted a robbery at a video game store at 2101 West Lehigh Avenue at approximately 4:45 pm.

The officers were conducting a security check of the businesses in the strip mall and had parked in front of the store. Officer Wilson went into the store to conduct the security check and to buy a video game for one of his sons as a birthday gift. While he was inside two brothers entered the store and announced a robbery, not noticing Officer Wilson's presence or the patrol car parked out front.

Officer Wilson immediately announced himself. He exchanged shots with the two brothers as he drew fire away from the customers and employees. He was struck three times during the shootout in which more than 50 shots were fired. The two men then exited the store where they engaged in a shootout with Officer Wilson's partner, who had remained in the patrol car. One of the subjects was wounded during the second shootout.

Both men were arrested and charged with Officer Wilson's murder. One of the brothers was on parole for robbery at the time and both had extensive criminal histories. Both men were sentenced to life in prison in June 2018.

Officer Wilson had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for eight years. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two young sons.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Wilson gave the Philadelphia Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Wilson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 5, 2015

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 2015, 60 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 126th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Robert was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded