Eric Lewis, 35, was arraigned on Sunday morning and ordered held without bail after being charged with 76 offenses in connection with the fatal ambush of a Philadelphia police officer. The charges, which include murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder, and 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, stem from a shooting that killed Officer Shane Seiber and wounded his partner.
Seiber, a 40-year-old Air Force veteran and father of two, served for 10 years with the Philadelphia Police Department. He is survived by his wife, a 7-year-old son, and a 3-year-old daughter. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel stated at a Saturday news conference that Seiber fought valiantly before losing his life, noting that his wife and family were present when he passed. His partner, a 33-year-old father of five, was shot 12 times. The wounded officer was initially listed in critical condition but has since been reported in stable condition.
The incident occurred around 12:20 a.m. on Saturday when the two officers responded to a report of an armed man. Police said they located an armed individual on a porch and came under significant gunfire after approaching him. Additional officers and a SWAT team arrived shortly thereafter and found both officers on the porch with gunshot wounds. Following further gunfire, authorities declared a barricade situation before taking Lewis into custody.
Police reported that Lewis was found in possession of two handguns and a shotgun, one of which belonged to the wounded officer. District Attorney Larry Krasner declined to specify whether Lewis had fired the officer's weapon or how he obtained the firearms. Krasner also stated that nothing in Lewis' criminal background would have prevented him from obtaining a firearm. Lewis is an employee of the Philadelphia Water Department. His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Pennsylvania court records indicate that Lewis has a criminal history dating to 2012. He was convicted of theft and receiving stolen property in 2012 and of gun-related offenses and simple assault in 2013, receiving probation in both instances. In 2018, Lewis admitted to disorderly conduct involving fighting and received another probation sentence. His record also includes three traffic citations from 2024 for driving without headlights, lacking proof of insurance, and a windshield violation.