Reward rises to $32,500 for arrest of vandal who defaced slain cop’s mural
Sgt. Robert Wilson was killed trying to stop a robbery inside a video game store in 2015.
The union representing Philadelphia police officers on Friday night said the reward had been increased to $32,500 for the arrest of the vandal who defaced a mural in Strawberry Mansion honoring a slain officer.
The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 initially offered a $10,000 reward on Thursday, but through donations from residents and labor unions, that figure more than doubled by Friday afternoon, according to a statement from the FOP.
On Friday night, the police union said that Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 had also contributed $10,000.
The mural, located on Ridge Avenue just west of 29th Street, was defaced with red spray-painted graffiti. The mural was painted in memory of Sgt. Robert Wilson, who was killed trying to stop a robbery inside a video game store in 2015.
“It’s sickening and disgusting that some low-life would deface the mural of hero and fallen-officer, Robert Wilson III,” FOP Lodge #5 President John McNesby said in an earlier statement. “We will never forget Rob’s bravery, courage and valor when he saved lives inside that GameStop store.”
The FOP said the reward would be given to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of the vandals.
The FOP on Thursday also issued a statement from Wilson’s sister, Shaki’ra Wilson-Burroughs, who called the defacement another example of police being shown disrespect. She blamed District Attorney Larry Krasner for setting the tone of disrespect by allowing Wilson’s killers to plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.