A 33-year-old married father of five was listed in stable condition after being shot 12 times during an ambush on Saturday morning in West Philadelphia. The officer, initially critical, has since been upgraded to stable.
Eric Lewis, a 35-year-old man employed with the Philadelphia Water Department, was arraigned Sunday morning on 76 charges and ordered held without bail. Lewis faces 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 offenses.
Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber, 40, was killed in the incident. He was a father of two and an Air Force veteran who served 10 years with the Philadelphia Police Department. Seiber is survived by his wife and two children.
The shooting occurred around 12:20 a.m. when two officers responded to a report of a man with a gun on North 52nd Street in West Philadelphia. After locating an armed suspect on a porch, the officers came under “significant gunfire.” Other officers and a SWAT team arrived soon after and found both officers wounded.
Police reported that Lewis was in possession of two handguns and a shotgun, including one handgun belonging to the officer who was wounded.
Pennsylvania state Representative Amen Brown (D), who lives near the shooting scene, stated that Lewis allegedly told police during his arrest he wished he had killed more officers.
Lewis has a criminal history dating back to 2012. Court records show he was convicted of theft and receiving stolen property in 2012 and gun-related offenses and simple assault in 2013, with probation in both cases. He pleaded guilty in 2018 to disorderly conduct involving fighting and received probation.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel described Seiber as having “fought valiantly” before his death. Bethel added that Seiber’s wife was able to be by his side before he passed away.
Lewis’s next court date is scheduled for October 26.
