Philadelphia officer shot dead while trying to stop robbery

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia police officer was shot in the head and killed after he and his partner exchanged gunfire with two suspects trying to rob a video game store, city officials said today.

The slain officer, Robert Wilson III, fired back even as he was being shot by suspects on either side of him. One was struck and taken to a hospital while the other was in custody, police said.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, red-eyed as he spoke at an evening news conference, said he had met the 30-year-old Wilson and his partner when they took part in a recent pilot program in which officers wore body cameras.

"I knew him, had met him. He was one of the best police officers this city has to offer, period," Ramsey said, standing beside the mayor, the district attorney and other city officials.

It was not immediately clear if Wilson was wearing a body camera when he was shot at 4:44 p.m., but authorities did seize video from store security cameras. He was shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. at Temple University Hospital.

His survivors include a 9-year-old son and 1-year-old child, Ramsey said.