Community · West Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia police officer killed in West Philadelphia ambush; partner shot 12 times
Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber, a 40-year-old, 10-year veteran of the department, died Saturday morning, October 10, hours after he and his partner were shot on a West Philadelphia porch while answering a call about a man with a gun.
Officers were sent to the 100 block of North 52nd Street shortly after 12:20 a.m. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the two officers were shot soon after they stepped onto the porch. Officer Seiber was struck three times and died at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. His wife and family were with him, the commissioner said.
His partner, a 33-year-old officer and father of five, was shot 12 times. He was in stable condition Saturday. "He's not out of the woods yet, but he is stable," Bethel said.
Police said the gunman fled down an alley and fired at more officers, none of whom were hit. Neighbors were told to stay inside during the search. A suspect was taken into custody after he fell from a tree where he had been hiding. Police recovered two handguns and a shotgun. One of the handguns belonged to the officer who was wounded.
District Attorney Larry Krasner identified the suspect as Eric Lewis, 35. Lewis is charged with murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer and weapons offenses in Officer Seiber's death. He also faces attempted murder charges for shooting the second officer and for firing at nine others. The charges are accusations; Lewis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Officer Seiber served in the 19th District. He leaves his wife, a 7-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
"This will be a period of mourning for us, but we will stand tall as a department and get through this together," Commissioner Bethel said. Mayor Cherelle Parker called his death a sacrifice made to protect the city. Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags across Pennsylvania flown at half-staff in his honor.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Officer Seiber is the department's fourth officer killed in the line of duty in the last three years.
True News will update this story as the department shares funeral arrangements and the court case moves forward.
Sources
- https://6abc.com/post/philadelphia-police-officer-dies-shooting-another-cop-injured/19926939/
- https://www.inquirer.com/crime/police-officers-shot-west-philadelphia-20261010.html
- https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-philadelphia-police-officers-shot-officials-say/4477336/
- https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/philadelphia-police-officer-killed-injured-after-responding-reports-137163533
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