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The sentence begins

Two former Philadelphia police officers report to prison.

Former Philadelphia Police Officers Chauncey Ellison and Robin Fortune surrendered Friday to begin serving their 11-1/2- to 23-month prison terms in the 2008 shooting death of a West Oak Lane man in an argument over a stolen pizza pie.

Ellison, 41, a sergeant with the police force for nine years, and Fortune, 45, an officer for 13 years, were taken into custody in the courtroom of Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Sandy L.V. Byrd, who formally denied a motion filed by Ellison's lawyer Brian J. McMonagle to reduce the prison term.

On Nov. 26, a jury convicted Ellison and Fortune of reckless endangerment in the death of Lawrence Allen, 20. The jury deadlocked on a voluntary manslaughter count against Ellison, who fired the fatal shot, and a conspiracy count against Fortune. The jury also acquitted Ellison of gun and conspiracy counts. The District Attorney's office announced on Jan. 29 that it would not retry Ellison and Fortune on charges on which the jury could not reach a verdict.

In 2008, Ellison and Fortune were living together along with Ellison's teenage son and Fortune's teenage son and daughter. According to trial testimony, Ellison and Fortune were at home when they learned a local teen punched Ellison's 14-year-old son and stole his pizza.

The couple, with two children in the car, tailed the robber, a friend of Allen's, to the 1900 block of Renovo Street. There, in sweats and without identification, Ellison and Fortune saw the robber, but Allen blocked their way. An argument ensued and Ellison shot Allen.

Ellison insisted Allen drew a gun although no gun was found near his body and Assistant District Attorney Gail Fairman argued that Allen was unarmed.