Philly cop killed, another hospitalized in shooting ambush from city water department employee: report

Officers responded to a call at approximately 12:22 am reporting a man armed with a gun on a porch. They arrived at the scene about 30 minutes later and came under gunfire as they approached the porch, prompting the department’s SWAT team to respond.

The suspect was found in a tree and was taken into custody. He had two handguns and a shotgun in his possession, including one handgun that belonged to one of the wounded officers. The suspect was identified as Eric Lewis, who works for the Philadelphia Water Department, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

40-year-old officer Shane Seiber was shot three times while responding to the call. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Seiber was married and had three children, ages seven and three. He was a 10-year veteran on the police force, according to WHYY.

Another officer, who is 33 years old, was shot 12 times and taken to the hospital. In a news conference on Saturday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the other officer was “stable” but is “not out of the woods yet.”

The suspect is in custody, though he was not publicly identified by authorities. Bethel added that he was “so damn proud of the men and women who serve in this department.”

"Consistently, they go into danger, and they give their lives for this job,” he said. “And so we ask for those prayers, and we ask for you to support our men and women out there, and what they give for this profession.”

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said that the city is communicating with the family of Seiber. “I need you to know that your Philadelphia village is here. You are not alone. We will be by your side, in the midst of it all,” she said.

A procession was carried out Friday for the police officer that was killed, with law enforcement lining up outside at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.