▶ Watch Video: Philadelphia police officer killed, another wounded in West Philly shooting
The man accused of shooting two police officers, killing one and injuring another, early Saturday morning in West Philadelphia is identified as 35-year-old Eric Lewis, according to District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Lewis faces a slew of charges in the shooting death of 40-year-old officer Shane Seiber. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel identified the fallen officer as a 10-year veteran of the force with two children. His wife and other relatives were by his side at the hospital, he said.
“He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,” said Bethel during a mid-morning news conference. “I want to say I appreciate all of the calls and all the support we received when we left out of [the hospital] this morning.
“We had an immense amount of hope.”
According to Krasner, Lewis shot the two police officers and opened fire on nine other officers around 1 a.m. on the 100 block of North 52nd Street in West Philadelphia. Lewis is charged with homicide of a law enforcement officer, murder, attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, possession of an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment and more.
Krasner added that the nine other officers who were fired at weren’t struck by gunfire.
Lewis is being held without bail, Krasner said. Lewis appeared in court Sunday morning, and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 26.
“Thoughts and prayers — I hate when people say that — thoughts and prayers. My thoughts and prayers, but our deeds with these charges are what I’m looking forward to at this point,” Councilmember Curtis Jones said during an afternoon news conference.
The president of District Council 33, the union representing many city workers, said Lewis is a member and works for the Philadelphia Water Department. The Water Department referred any questions about the shooting to the city.
The union expressed condolences for Seiber’s family and colleagues and said it will cooperate with the investigation in a post on social media.
The Delaware FOP State Lodge said Seiber was a veteran and served at the Dover Air Force Base from 2007 to 2015.
“Shane was intensely committed to his military sisters and brothers and news of his Delaware connection has deepened the sense of shock and sadness,” the Delaware FOP State Lodge wrote in part on Facebook.
What led to the Philadelphia police shooting
Police initially received a call about a man with a gun on the porch at the West Philly home. When officers arrived, they approached and came under heavy gunfire, Bethel said.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said two of the officers were “badly wounded.” They were rushed into surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
Bethel said Seiber was shot three times. The other officer, a 33-year-old father of five, was shot 12 times, said Bethel, adding that “he’s not out of the woods yet.”
Seiber had recently completed SWAT training and hoped to be transferred to that unit, police sources told CBS News Philadelphia.
After the initial gunfire, more officers — including a SWAT team — were called to the scene and closed in on Lewis, who allegedly fired at the responding officers multiple times.
Lewis was eventually arrested after police pulled him from a tree and took him into custody.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Amen Brown, who lives a few blocks away, said Lewis was hiding in the tree for hours. Brown said he was on the scene to see the suspect being taken into custody.
The suspect lives in the neighborhood and has “an extensive criminal record,” Brown said. While Lewis was being arrested, he allegedly said he wished he had killed more officers, Brown added.
Police recovered three guns from the scene — two handguns and a shotgun. One of the handguns had been taken from one of the officers who was shot, according to Bethel.
Lawmakers react to Philadelphia police shooting
Parker said the incident is a reminder of the dangers police officers face on the job and urged the public to pray for the officers.
“I want to be very clear, I am grateful for their service and the reason is because for nights like tonight. We think of them as law enforcement officers, but I see mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters,” Parker said.
“Beyond the fact that this is incredibly tragic, it feels even more tragic because the community has been working so hard here to make things safer,” Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said during an afternoon news conference.
Parker also called upon Pennsylvania state leaders to consider bills to address mental health and substance abuse to help improve public safety.
“We are … [seeking] legislation that will expand involuntary commitment laws to cover not only severe mental illness, but substance use disorder and any kind of mental and/or behavioral challenge that could interfere with Philadelphia’s ability to keep itself safe,” Parker said.
“I don’t apologize for it.”
In a statement, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he ordered U.S. and state flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Seiber.
“Our law enforcement officers are the very best of us,” Shapiro said. “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. We owe them our deepest gratitude.”
Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman posted on X that “we’re hoping for a full and speedy recovery for the other officer.
“It’s a stark reminder of the dangerous job our law enforcement has in keeping us all safe — and why we should always be grateful for their service,” his post read.
