Philadelphia officer Shane Seiber killed in ambush; partner shot 12 times; suspect charged with homicide

A Philadelphia police officer was killed and his partner wounded when they were ambushed responding to a report of an armed man in West Philadelphia just after midnight Saturday, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said. A suspect is in custody.

Officer Shane Seiber, 40, a 10 year veteran of the department, died at the hospital after being shot three times. His wife was able to be at his side before he passed, Bethel said. Seiber leaves behind his wife, a 7 year old son, and a 3 year old daughter. His partner, a 33 year old father of five, was shot 12 times and underwent surgery. He was stable on Saturday but, Bethel said, "not out of the woods yet."

The two officers had answered a report of a man with a gun on a porch in the 100 block of North 52nd Street. As they climbed the steps to a porch enclosed by an iron fence, the gunman opened fire. At some point, Bethel said, the gunman took a weapon from one of the wounded officers lying in the entryway.

The shooter kept firing at police as they responded to back up the two officers. SWAT was dispatched, and officers ultimately located the suspect in a tree. Police recovered a shotgun and two handguns, including the weapon taken from the wounded officer.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner charged Eric Lewis, 35, with homicide in Seiber's killing and with attempted homicide for allegedly shooting at nine other officers, none of whom were injured. Lewis, previously convicted of assault, theft, and carrying a firearm publicly, is being held without bail. Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags flown at half staff for Seiber.