PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A suspect has been charged with murder after an ambush in West Philadelphia early Saturday morning left one police officer dead and another seriously injured.
Officer Shane Seiber, 40, a 10-year veteran of the force, died at the hospital after being shot three times.
Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Seiber’s wife and other family members were able to be at his side before he died.
Seiber leaves behind a 7-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter, Bethel said.
“This will be a time of mourning for us, but we will stand strong as a department and get through this together,” Bethel said.
Commissioner Bethel announces officer’s death after West Philadelphia shooting
The other officer who was shot was shot 12 times. This police officer, aged 33 and father of five children, is currently hospitalized in stable condition.
“He’s not out of the woods yet, but he’s stable,” Bethel said.
District Attorney Larry Krasner identified the suspect Saturday afternoon as 35-year-old Eric Lewis.
Lewis faces a list of charges related to Seiber’s killing, including murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer and multiple weapons offenses.
He is also charged with attempted murder and other offenses for allegedly shooting the injured officer.
Additionally, Krasner said Lewis was charged with attempted murder for shooting at nine other police officers who were not hit.
Court records show Lewis has previous arrests on gun, drug and assault charges between 2013 and 2020.
District Council 33 confirms that Lewis was a union member employed by the Philadelphia Water Department.
Chairman Greg Boulware called what happened “heartbreaking” and “deeply disturbing” and said: “District Council 33 will continue to cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities as this matter progresses.”
Chopper 6 was above the motorcade for an officer killed in a shooting early Saturday morning in West Philadelphia.
Police were dispatched to the 100 block of North 52nd Street shortly after 12:20 a.m. for a report of a man with a gun on a porch.
The officers arrived about 30 minutes later and were shot shortly after setting foot on the porch.
Authorities say the suspect fled into an alley and fired multiple times at other officers, who were not hit.
Mayor Cherelle Parker delivers remarks at a press conference announcing the death of a Philadelphia police officer.
There was a search and lockdown of the neighborhood as police searched for the shooter, who was eventually arrested after falling from a tree.
Police recovered two handguns and a shotgun. Bethel said one of those handguns belonged to an officer who was shot.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Officer Seiber.
Stay with Action News and 6abc.com as this story develops.
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