A Philadelphia police officer was killed and another was seriously wounded after the two were caught in a barrage of gunfire while responding to a call in a West Philadelphia neighborhood.
Shane Seiber, a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, and his unidentified 33-year-old partner were sent to investigate reports of an armed man on a porch early Saturday morning. They encountered intense gunfire almost immediately.
Authorities said the officers had only just stepped onto the porch when the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Eric Lewis, opened fire. Officials described the attack as an ambush.
Seiber, 40, was struck three times and later died in the hospital with his wife and family at his side. He is survived by a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter.
‘He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,’ Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said at a news conference, according to WPVI News. ‘This is a brutal, senseless, horrific killing.’
The second officer, who has five children, was shot 12 times. He survived and was later listed in stable condition, although Bethel cautioned that he ‘is not out of the woods yet.’
After firing on the two officers, Lewis reportedly ran down an alley and shot at nine additional officers who arrived at the scene. None of those officers was struck, District Attorney Larry Krasner said at a separate news conference.
Krasner said prosecutors expect to file approximately 80 charges against Lewis, including murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. The suspect surrendered after SWAT teams arrived.
Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber (pictured), 40, and his unidentified 33-year-old partner came under heavy gunfire while responding early Saturday to a report of an armed man on a porch
The officers were attacked moments after stepping onto the porch by 35-year-old Eric Lewis (pictured), whom authorities identified as the suspect in what they called an ambush
Seiber was shot three times and died at the hospital surrounded by his wife and family. He leaves behind a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter (all pictured)
The second officer, a father of five, survived despite being shot 12 times and was later reported to be in stable condition
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel spoke of the department’s coming grief, saying: ‘This will be a period of mourning for us, but we will stand tall as a department’
Bethel said the department would face a difficult period of mourning but would remain united. ‘This will be a period of mourning for us, but we will stand tall as a department and get through this together,’ he said.
The shooting unfolded shortly after midnight Saturday in the 100 block of North 52nd Street. Officers had been dispatched to the West Philadelphia address after receiving a report of a man with a gun on a porch.
About 30 minutes after the original call, Seiber and his partner arrived at the residence. Within moments, both officers were under fire.
As reinforcements moved toward the scene, Lewis allegedly escaped through a nearby alley, firing at police before briefly vanishing from sight.
The reported escape prompted a large-scale search. SWAT units joined the operation, while police placed the surrounding neighborhood under lockdown.
Officers located Lewis at about 3:30 a.m. hiding in a tree. Investigators believe he had climbed up in an effort to avoid being captured.
Police arrested Lewis and recovered a shotgun along with two handguns, one of which belonged to an officer wounded in the attack.
Seiber and his partner were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in critical condition and rushed into emergency surgery, but Seiber tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The deadly ambush began shortly after midnight, when officers were dispatched to the 100 block of North 52nd Street following reports of a man standing on a porch with a gun
Roughly 30 minutes after the initial report, Seiber (pictured with wife) and his 33-year-old partner were gunned down at the location and found lying severely injured on the porch
After unleashing a barrage of bullets, Lewis fled down an alley and opened fire on nine more responding officers, none of whom were hit
Lewis was eventually found hiding in a tree at around 3.30am, having apparently climbed up in an attempt to evade capture. He surrendered to SWAT
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Following Saturday’s press conference, officers and others gathered for a procession honoring Seiber
‘Today, police officer Shane Seiber paid the ultimate price while sacrificing his own life to protect and serve our city,’ Mayor Cherelle Parker said during Saturday’s news conference.
‘Because of his noble, and courageous and valiant choice to serve, a 40-year-old servant leader of our Philadelphia village is gone too soon. A wife is now without her husband. Two babies are without their father,’ she added.
‘Their families right now are feeling unspeakable pain but watching this department and those families sticking close together as a village has definitely showed me what the indomitable power of the human spirit is and can mean during times like this.’
Lewis was charged with homicide of a law enforcement officer and murder in Seiber’s death, along with 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder and other related offenses.
Krasner said he will be held without bail, with a preliminary arraignment and bail hearing expected to take place ‘in the near future.’
Lewis was a city employee who worked for the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), with the union representing him confirming his employment to NBC10 Philadelphia.
It said it was ‘deeply shaken’ by the shooting, which killed Officer Shane Seiber and wounded his partner, adding that it would cooperate fully with detectives.
‘District Council 33 is deeply shaken by the tragic shooting involving two Philadelphia police officers, including Officer Shane Seiber, who was killed in the line of duty,’ union officials said in a statement.
Lewis was charged with homicide of a law enforcement officer and murder in Seiber’s (pictured) death, along with 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer
Mayor Cherelle Parker (pictured) said during Saturday’s news conference: ‘A 40-year-old servant leader of our Philadelphia village is gone too soon. A wife is now without her husband. Two babies are without their father’
The district attorney said Lewis will be held without bail, with a preliminary arraignment and bail hearing expected to take place ‘in the near future’
A memorial page created in Seiber’s honor revealed that he was also a military veteran who served a 10-year tour
‘We extend our heartfelt condolences to Officer Seiber’s family, loved ones, and colleagues, and we offer our sincere well-wishes for the full recovery of the officer who survived,’ it added.
‘Both officers are public servants and city employees, and this profound loss and suffering are felt across our entire municipal workforce.’
The fatal attack prompted a wave of responses from state and local leaders, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
‘Our law enforcement officers are the very best of us. They put their lives on the line every day, running towards danger to keep their fellow Pennsylvanians safe, not knowing if they will return home,’ Shapiro said in a statement on X.
‘We owe them our deepest gratitude,’ he added. ‘I’ve ordered US and Pennsylvania flags on all Commonwealth grounds to fly at half-staff in honor of Officer Seiber’s memory – may it forever be a blessing.’
Court records reveal Lewis has a criminal history stretching back to 2012. In 2015, he admitted guilt to weapons offenses stemming from an incident two years earlier, including carrying a firearm in public.
It was unclear early Sunday if he had retained an attorney.
He received five years of probation and was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol assessments and a mental health evaluation.
Following Saturday’s press conference, officers and others gathered for a procession honoring Seiber.
A memorial page created in the fallen officer’s honor revealed that he was also a military veteran who served a 10-year tour.