A Philadelphia police officer died and a second officer was critically injured early Saturday after coming under gunfire while responding to a report of an armed man, authorities said.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel identified the slain officer as Shane Seiber, 40, a 10-year veteran of the department. Seiber was married and had two children, a 7-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. His partner, a 33-year-old father of five, was shot 12 times and underwent surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.
Officers initially received a call shortly after 12:20 a.m. regarding a man armed with a gun on a porch in West Philadelphia, Bethel told reporters. When the two officers arrived roughly 30 minutes later and stepped onto the porch, they were immediately met with heavy gunfire.
Suspect arrested after standoff in tree
Back-up officers and a SWAT unit arrived soon after and discovered the two wounded officers on the porch, Bethel said. The gunman fled the scene on foot, opening fire on additional officers before climbing into a tree to hide. SWAT personnel later took the suspect into custody without major injuries, according to authorities.
District Attorney Larry Krasner identified the suspect as Eric Lewis, 35. Lewis faces charges including homicide, attempted murder, attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. Krasner said Lewis also fired toward nine other people during the confrontation.
Investigators recovered three firearms at the scene: a shotgun and two handguns, one of which belonged to one of the wounded officers, Bethel said.
District Council 33, a municipal labor union, confirmed in a statement that Lewis was a member and worked for the Philadelphia Water Department. The union expressed sorrow over Seiber’s death, extended prayers to the wounded officer and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
Court records show Lewis had prior criminal convictions dating back to 2012, including guilty pleas for theft, weapons violations, simple assault and disorderly conduct, receiving probation in those cases, Fox News reported.
Leaders mourn loss and discuss legal changes
Bethel commended Seiber’s service during a news briefing Saturday morning. “He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,” Bethel said, noting that Seiber’s wife was able to remain at his side before he died.
Mayor Cherelle Parker praised the officers’ bravery and said Seiber “paid the ultimate price while sacrificing his own life to protect and serve our city.” Parker also announced plans to work alongside state lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro to push for changes to state involuntary commitment laws to encompass behavioral health and substance use disorders, though Krasner noted that investigators have not determined whether mental illness or drugs played any role in the attack.
Shapiro and Parker each ordered flags lowered to half-staff to honor Seiber. U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick also offered condolences to the officer’s family and the department, calling Seiber’s sacrifice heroic.
Prosecutors said Lewis remains held in custody awaiting preliminary arraignment and a formal bail hearing, while detectives continue working to determine what prompted the shooting.
