The 59-year-old ex-convict - who has spent half his life in prison for murder - also tried to shoot his way past four police officers Monday afternoon, but they shot him instead.

Today, with Wilson still recovering at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Homicide Capt. James Clark announced that ballistics tests showed the same .38-caliber revolver used against police was used to kill Wilson's girlfriend early Monday morning.

Wilson, who has been out of prison for three years, was charged with murder in the slaying of Monica Wilson, 41.

In 1973, Richard Wilson and an accomplice entered a South Philadelphia clothing store, and they pulled a gun on three employees. The manager, Edward Appell, 57, was shot before he could say a thing, police said at the time.

For that, Wilson served about 30 years on a 27- to 55-year sentence. He was paroled in 2003, but was sent back to prison for a parole violation after being arrested in 2005 on an assault charge. That case was dismissed, and Wilson was paroled for a second time in May 2005, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Troubles began for Wilson again early this week. Wilson, who is married, was out with his girlfriend Sunday night into Monday morning, police said.

The two were spending time near the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Southwest Philadelphia, using crack cocaine, police said.

Wilson was angered because his girlfriend used his cell phone, and that's when he shot her, police said.

Monica Wilson was found by passersby on Cemetery Avenue, near Woodland Avenue, about 12:20 a.m. Monday with a gunshot wound to the head. The gunman was gone.

About 12 hours later, a tipster called police and identified a man in the area as the shooter. When police arrived, they said they spotted Richard Wilson at 64th Street and Greenway Avenue with a gun in his pocket.

Police said that as officers closed in, Wilson began firing a five-shot revolver, reloading once in his attempt to flee.

He missed all four officers, but they returned fire and struck him in the stomach and hip, police said.

Police traced the gun to a man who had legally purchased it and reported it stolen.

Two of the city's firearms examiners, Officer Lou Grandizio and Kenneth Lay, a civilian, then compared bullets shot from that weapon with a bullet recovered from Monica Wilson. They matched.

Wilson also is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons violations.