Crime & Safety

Philadelphia police officer killed, another injured after responding to reports of man with a gun

Shane Seiber, 40, was shot and killed in west Philadelphia after responding to a report of a man with a gun, police said. An officer who was with him was also shot.

Philadelphia police officer killed, another injured after responding to reports of man with a gun
FILE – Shown is a Philadelphia police car with flashing lights in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The Philadelphia Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police has filed a lawsuit Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 seeking to stop a city law banning officers from pulling over drivers for low-level offenses from going into effect saying the law illegally pre-empts existing state laws on traffic violations. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Authorities are charging Eric Lewis, 35, with homicide for the alleged killing of a police officer early Saturday morning, according to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Shane Seiber, 40, was shot and killed in west Philadelphia after responding to a report of a man with a gun, police said. An officer who was with him was also shot.

Seiber, a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, and the other officer were transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and underwent surgery, according to Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. The surviving officer, who was shot 12 times, is in stable condition, Bethel said.

Along with charges for Seiber’s death, Lewis is facing a host of others, including attempted homicide, for allegedly shooting the officer and shooting at nine other officers who responded to the scene, Krasner said. None of those nine were injured.

Lewis is being held without bail and will be arraigned soon, Krasner said. Lewis was previously convicted of criminal offenses including assault, theft and carrying a firearm publicly, according to court records.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he ordered flags to fly at half-staff for Seiber, who is survived by his wife and two children — a 7-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl.

“This is a brutal, senseless, horrific killing,” Krasner said.

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Patrick Berkery
Patrick Berkery Senior Newsletter Editor
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