Eric Lewis was charged with murder for fatally shooting Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber and wounding another officer
Lewis appeared early Sunday morning in Municipal Court, where he was also charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, assault of a law enforcement officer, and additional crimes.
Eric Lewis, 35, was charged with murder for fatally shooting Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber and seriously injuring another officer during an encounter outside his West Philadelphia home early Saturday morning.
Lewis appeared early Sunday morning in Municipal Court, where he was also charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, assault of a law enforcement officer, and a host of additional crimes.
Lewis is being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility without bail, court records show.
Court records show Lewis is represented by the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Keisha Hudson, chief defender, declined to comment on the case Sunday.
On Saturday, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Lewis’ actions amounted to a “brazen and disturbing act of violence” against law enforcement.
Krasner said his office would seek full accountability for Seiber’s killer, and that the investigation into the slaying of the 40-year-old father of two — along with the shooting of a 33-year-old officer who remains hospitalized at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in stable but serious condition — remained in its early stages.
Police have not publicly identified that officer. The department generally withholds such information in the early stages of an investigation to protect officer and family privacy.
Police said the early morning ambush outside Lewis’ home on the 100 block of North 52nd Street began when Seiber and the 33-year-old officer arrived about 12:17 a.m. for a report of a man with a gun on his porch.
As the officers approached the home, Lewis opened fire, striking them multiple times, according to police. Seiber suffered three gunshot wounds, while the other officer was struck 12 times, police said.
Lewis stole one of the officers’ firearms during the incident, forcing a standoff as law enforcement officers rushed to the scene, police said. SWAT units secured the area, and Lewis fired shots at responding police, they said.
No other officers were injured, police said.
At one point during the gunfire, they said, Lewis climbed a tree next to the home. But police spotted him there and ordered him to surrender, police said.
Police recovered two handguns and a shotgun during his arrest.
Two of Lewis’ siblings declined Sunday morning to speak with a reporter.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
