One Philly police officer dead, one wounded in early-morning shooting; suspect ID'd as city employee
Two officers were responding to reports of a man with a gun in West Philly just after midnight when they received "significant gunfire."
Two Philadelphia police offers were shot multiple times in West Philly Saturday morning.
Shane Seiber, a father of two and a 10-year veteran of the force, later died at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. A second officer, who has yet to be identified, was in stable condition.
District Attorney Larry Krasner identified the suspected gunman as Eric Lewis, an employee with the Philadelphia Water Department.
In an unrelated event in Erie, Pa., nine people were killed in a mass shooting, including two children.
Krasner ID's shooting suspect, outlines charges after 'horrific killing' of Philly cop
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner called the death of Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber a "brutal, senseless, horrific killing."
Speaking to reporters Saturday afternoon, Krasner confirmed the suspect was Eric Lewis, an employee with the Philadelphia Water Department who has a criminal record dating back to 2012.
Lewis will be held without bail, Krasner said, and faces a lengthy list of charges, including murder, attempted murder, disarming a law enforcement officer, and numerous other felonies.
Office Shane Seiber's family gathers at home in mourning
At fallen Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber's house, down a leafy drive in Bensalem, Bucks County, a township police officer had parked a patrol car out front around 5 p.m. Saturday. The township officer's badge had a black mourning band around it.
Inside the house, which had a few Halloween decorations and a "Welcome to our Home," sign on the front porch, the officer's family members and others had gathered. A few came from the house to greet the Bensalem officer, and exchanged hugs. All declined to speak with a reporter, as did a relative who answered the door.
Earlier, Interstate 95 was shut down between Vine Street and Aramingo Avenue. KYW reported that police were transporting Seiber's body from the Medical Examiner's Office.
Philly union says it's cooperating with officials after member named as suspect in killing of police officer
District Council 33 said it is cooperating with authorities after one of its members was identified as the suspect in the shooting death of a Philadelphia police officer.
Eric Lewis, an employee with the Philadelphia Water Department, faces murder, attempted murder, and other charges related to a Saturday morning shooting in West Philadelphia that killed officer Shane Seiber and wounded another officer, who remains hospitalized.
"The circumstances surrounding this tragic incident, involving a member of District Council 33 employed by the Philadelphia Water Department, are heartbreaking and deeply troubling," District Council 33 said in a statement. "We want to be absolutely clear: District Council 33 does not condone violence in any form, under any circumstances. This act of violence is not reflective of our values, our mission, or the conduct we expect from our members."
Suspected gunman has a criminal history dating back to 2012
Eric Lewis, the suspected gunman who ambushed two police officers overnight, leaving one dead, had a criminal history dating back to at least 2012, publicly-available court records show.
The convictions include a misdemeanor illegal gun possession case in 2013.
In 2012, he was charged with theft and receiving stolen property. He was later convicted at trial and sentenced to two years probation. Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Kennedy also ordered Lewis to undergo substance abuse treatment.
20 Philadelphia police officers shot in the last three years
Shane Seiber's death is the department’s fourth in the line of duty in the last three years.
Andy Chan, a Philadelphia Highway Patrol officer who suffered a devastating brain injury in a motorcycle crash while on his way to work in 2019, died in December.
In 2024, Officer Jaime Roman died months after being shot in the neck during a routine car stop.
Three years ago this month, Officer Richard Mendez was fatally shot while trying to stop a car theft.
This also marks the 19th and 20th Philadelphia police officers shot in the same time period, according to an Inquirer analysis.
In June, three officers were wounded when a confrontation escalated to gunfire in the Wynnefield section of West Philadelphia. The man who authorities said opened fire — a retired city firefighter — was killed.
Map: Location where two Philly officers were shot
Brother of former Philadelphia Police officer shot in 1991: 'Little respect for police'
Former Philadelphia police officer Brian McMullin, who was patrolling with his twin, Donald McMullin, in 1991, when Donald was shot in the head and critically wounded, posted on Facebook, "There seems to be little respect for police who keep our streets safe. Remember they are fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons trying to do their best."
McMullin, now an emergency room nurse, gave his brother CPR and is credited with saving his life. The twins were partners in the Philadelphia Police Department and were patrolling in West Philadelphia, near 57th and Washington, when the shooting occurred.
Elsewhere, condolences poured in from police departments around the region
Shapiro to review Pa.'s involuntary commitment laws
Gov. Josh Shapiro is “prepared” to review Pennsylvania’s involuntary commitment laws, following a call this morning by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker for the state to allow the city to commit people with substance use disorder.
Shapiro administration spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky said in a statement Saturday the governor and mayor spoke Saturday morning and that “the Shapiro Administration is prepared to work with the General Assembly to review Pennsylvania’s involuntary commitment laws.”
Parker called on Shapiro and the state legislature to review the statute while speaking during a news conference after a man fatally shot a Philadelphia police officer and wounded another on Saturday morning in West Philadelphia.
Fetterman mourns fallen Philly police officer
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said on social media Saturday his family was grieving for the families of the two Philadelphia police officers shot on Saturday morning, one of whom died.
“We are keeping all those impacted in our thoughts today, and we’re hoping for a full and speedy recovery for the other officer,” Fetterman, a Democrat, said in a post on X. “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.”
Shapiro, Parker order flags to fly at half-staff
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags across the commonwealth to fly at half staff after Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber was shot and killed responding to a call early Saturday morning.
"Our law enforcement officers are the very best of us. 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," Shapiro wrote on social media Saturday afternoon. "We owe them our deepest gratitude."
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker also ordered flags across the city to fly at half staff.
Fallen officer remembered as 'a beautiful soul' by former classmate
A Philadelphia police officer, who did not want to be named out of respect for the family and fellow officers, mourned the death of Shane Seiber, her former classmate and "a beautiful soul" killed in an early-morning shooting in West Philadelphia Saturday.
"Today, I am not just praying as a fellow police officer. I am praying as a classmate, a mother, a friend, and a human being whose heart is absolutely shattered," the officer said.
"Life is so incredibly fragile. In the blink of an eye, everything can change. Tomorrow is never promised, and moments like these remind us just how precious every breath and every embrace truly are."
Philly police officer dead after early-morning shooting
One of the Philadelphia police officers ambushed in a shooting in West Philadelphia overnight has died, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.
Officer Shane Seiber, a 10-year veteran of the force, died at Penn Presbyterian Hospital Saturday morning, Bethel said. Seiber was a married father of a 7-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
“He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,” Bethel said.
Police gather outside hospital where wounded officers were being treated
Outside Penn Presbyterian, police officers on motorcycles parked near the exit for emergency vehicles, where people were gathered.
Dozens of uniformed officers and other people lined the route outside the trauma center entrance.
Across the street, police stood at “parade rest” — arms behind their backs — and in formation, a solemn gesture of respect.
'This is a nice block'
Neighbor Leannett Hill didn’t hear the shooting and was stunned to see a video of her own block on the news.
“This is a nice block," said Hill, who has lived on the block since 2024. “Pretty much everyone gets along on this block.”
Hill’s daughter, Camilla Vanessa Stephenson, was murdered in 2011, and the shooting made her think about the families of the police officers.
Two police officers shot multiple times in West Philly
Two Philadelphia police officers are in critical condition after authorities said a man ambushed them early Saturday with a shotgun outside his West Philadelphia home.
The 19th District police officers were responding about 12:20 a.m. to reports of a man with a gun in the 100 block of North 52nd Street when they received “significant gunfire,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel said at a news conference.
A 40-year-old officer was shot three times, Bethel said. A 33-year-old officer was shot 12 times. Both were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where they were in surgery. Their names have not been made public.
Sources ID suspect as Philly water department employee
Law enforcement sources identified the alleged gunman who shot two Philadelphia police officers early Saturday morning as Eric Lewis, an employee with the Philadelphia Water Department.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
A spokesperson for the city did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A 'horrific act of violence'
During a Saturday morning news conference, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said the two Philadelphia police officers shot early Saturday morning were “badly wounded.”
“Their families right now are feeling unspeakable pain, but watching this department and those families sticking close together as a village has definitely shown me what the indomitable power of the human spirit is and can mean during times like this,” Parker said.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents West Philadelphia, called it a “horrific act of violence,” adding “our city will not accept this as normal.”