Philadelphia officer killed in deadly ambush
A deadly ambush in West Philadelphia leaves Officer Shane Seiber dead and his partner hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds. Suspect Eric Lewis, a Philadelphia Water Department employee, was arraigned on more than 70 charges, including murder and manslaughter of a law enforcement officer. The suspect has a long criminal record dating back to 2012.
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The suspect charged in the ambush murder of a Philadelphia police officer was arraigned Sunday morning on 76 counts and was ordered held without bail, court records show.
Eric Lewis, 35, faces charges including murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder, 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and other related offenses. His next court date is scheduled for October 26.
The charges stem from a Saturday shooting that killed Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber and injured his partner.
Seiber, 40, was a father of two and an Air Force veteran who served 10 years on the Philadelphia police force. He is survived by his wife, his 7-year-old son and his 3-year-old daughter.
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Eric Lewis faces 76 counts, including murder, attempted murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer and 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer. (Philadelphia Police Department)
“He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,” Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said at a news conference Saturday. “His wife was able to be by his side before his death, as well as his family.”
The injured police officer, a 33-year-old father of five, was shot 12 times and was initially in critical condition. He has since been listed in stable condition.
The shooting happened around 12:20 a.m. Saturday, when the two officers responded to a report of a man with a gun. They located an armed man on a porch, police said.
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The deceased officer was identified as Shane Seiber, a 40-year-old father of two and Air Force veteran who spent 10 years on the Philadelphia police force. (Philadelphia Police Department)
The officers then came under “heavy gunfire” after reaching the porch, police said.
Additional officers and a SWAT team arrived a short time later and found both officers on the porch suffering from gunshot wounds.
More gunshots followed, prompting authorities to declare a barricade situation before Lewis was ultimately arrested, according to police.
Police said Lewis was found in possession of two handguns and a shotgun. One of the handguns belonged to an officer injured in the attack.
At a news conference Saturday, prosecutor Larry Krasner declined to say whether Lewis fired the officer’s handgun or how he obtained the other firearms.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the fallen officer “fought valiantly, but he lost his life.” (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Krasner also said nothing in Lewis’ criminal history would have prevented him from obtaining a gun.
Lewis, an employee of the Philadelphia Water Department, has a criminal history dating back to 2012, according to Pennsylvania court records reviewed by Fox News Digital.
Court records show Lewis was convicted of theft and receiving stolen property in 2012, as well as firearms offenses and simple assault in 2013. He received probation on both cases.
In 2018, Lewis pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct involving fighting and was again sentenced to probation.
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Records also show Lewis received three traffic citations in 2024, including driving without headlights, failure to provide proof of insurance and a windshield violation.
Fox News’ James Cirrone, Brittany Miller and CB Cotton contributed to this report.
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