The Incident
A tragic scene unfolded early Saturday morning in West Philadelphia. Shane Seiber, a 40-year-old officer and 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia police department, was fatally shot while responding to a report of a man with a firearm. A second officer was also wounded during the encounter; according to police commissioner Kevin Bethel, that officer was transported to Penn Presbyterian medical center and underwent surgery, where they are currently listed in stable condition.
The Suspect
Law enforcement sources have identified the suspect as 35-year-old Eric Lewis. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Lewis was employed by the city's municipal water department.
The Aftermath
Governor Josh Shapiro has ordered flags across Pennsylvania to be flown at half-mast to honor Seiber's service. Seiber leaves behind a wife and two young children, a seven-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl.
Why it matters
This loss is a heavy blow for the city's law enforcement community. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Seiber is the 376th Philadelphia officer to die in the line of duty since 1851, and the 129th to be killed by gunfire.
