Philadelphia police officer killed, another wounded after early-morning shooting; suspect charged with murder
A 40-year-old Philadelphia police officer died and a second officer was seriously injured in an ambush shooting on North 52nd Street; the alleged gunman has been arrested and charged with murder and related offenses.
A suspect was arrested Saturday after an ambush shooting in West Philadelphia left Officer Shane Seiber, 40, dead and another officer seriously wounded. Seiber, a 10-year veteran, died at a hospital after being shot three times. Police commissioner Kevin Bethel said Seiber's wife and family were with him before he passed and noted that the officer left behind a 7-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
The second officer, a 33-year-old father of five, was hit 12 times and remains hospitalized in stable condition, Bethel added. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Eric Lewis, faces murder, homicide of a law-enforcement officer, multiple weapons offenses, attempted murder for the injured officer and for firing at nine other officers who were not struck. Court records show Lewis had prior arrests for gun, drug and assault charges between 2013 and 2020.
Police were dispatched to the 100 block of North 52nd Street shortly after 12:20 a.m. after a report of a man with a gun on a porch. Officers arrived about 30 minutes later and were shot shortly after stepping onto the porch. The suspect fled down an alley, fired at additional officers, and was later apprehended after falling from a tree. Officers recovered two handguns and a shotgun, one of which belonged to an officer who had been shot.
Governor Josh Shapiro ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer Seiber. District Council 33, which employs Lewis as a water-department worker, said it will cooperate fully with authorities.