‘Brutal, senseless’ ambush kills one police officer in Philly and leaves another critically injured

Published: 09:28 EDT, 11 October 2026 | Updated: 09:32 EDT, 11 October 2026

A police officer was fatally shot in a ‘brutal and senseless’ ambush by a gunman who also critically injured another cop in a Philadelphia neighborhood.

The pair were attacked as they answered a call about an armed man on a porch early Saturday morning.

But within moments of arriving the officers were met by a hail of bullets unleashed by the suspect, identified by authorities as 35-year-old Eric Lewis.

Slain: Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber (pictured), 40, and his unidentified 33-year-old partner were fired on while responding to a report of an armed man on a porch Saturday

Nabbed: The officers were allegedly gunned down by 35-year-old Eric Lewis (pictured), in what officials described as an ‘ambush’

After unleashing his barrage, Lewis fled down an alley and opened fire on nine more responding officers, none of whom were hit, District Attorney Larry Krasner said at a later news conference.

Krasner said his office plans to bring roughly 80 charges against Lewis, including murder and 10 counts of attempted murder, after the suspect surrendered following the arrival of SWAT teams.

The slain officer, Shane Sieber, 40, was a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department. He had been shot three times and died at hospital surrounded by his family, leaving behind a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter.

‘He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,’ police commissioner Kevin Bethel said during a news conference hours after the attack, according to WPVI News. ‘This is a brutal, senseless, horrific killing.’

The second officer, a father of five who was not named, survived after being shot 12 times and is now in stable condition, though Bethel warned: ‘He’s not out of the woods yet.’

Family man: Seiber had been shot three times. He died at the hospital surrounded by his wife and family, leaving behind a seven-year-old son and three-year-old daughter (all pictured)

Scene: The second officer, a father of five, survived after being shot 12 times and is now in stable condition

Response: Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel acknowledged the grief ahead for his officers, stating: ‘This will be a period of mourning for us, but we will stand tall as a department’

Commissioner Bethel acknowledged the grief ahead for the department, stating: ‘This will be a period of mourning for us, but we will stand tall as a department and get through this together.’

The deadly ambush began shortly after midnight Saturday when officers were dispatched to the 100 block of North 52nd Street in West Philadelphia following reports of a man standing on a porch with a gun.

Roughly 30 minutes after the initial report, Seiber and his 33-year-old partner reached the residence, only to be repeatedly shot within moments of arriving.

As additional officers rushed to the scene, Lewis allegedly fled down a nearby alleyway, firing at police before temporarily disappearing from view.

His escape sparked a massive manhunt, with SWAT teams deployed and the surrounding neighborhood placed on lockdown.

He was eventually found hiding in a tree at around 3.30am, having apparently climbed up in an attempt to evade capture.

Police took Lewis into custody and recovered a shotgun and two handguns, including a weapon belonging to one of the officers he had shot.

Seiber and his partner were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in critical condition and rushed into emergency surgery, but Seiber succumbed to his injuries.

Probe: The deadly ambush began shortly after midnight when officers were dispatched to the 100 block of North 52nd Street following reports of a man standing on a porch with a gun

Ambushed: Roughly 30 minutes after the initial report, Seiber (pictured with wife) and his 33-year-old partner were gunned down at the location and found lying severely injured on the porch

Heavy weapons: After unleashing a barrage of bullets, Lewis fled down an alley and opened fire on nine more responding officers, none of whom were hit

Search for evidence: Lewis was eventually found hiding in a tree at around 3.30am, having apparently climbed up in an attempt to evade capture. He surrendered to SWAT

Salutes: Following Saturday’s press conference, officers and others gathered for a procession honoring Seiber

‘Today, police officer Shane Seiber paid the ultimate price while sacrificing his own life to protect and serve our city,’ Mayor Cherelle Parker said during Saturday’s news conference.

‘Because of his noble, and courageous and valiant choice to serve, a 40-year-old servant leader of our Philadelphia village is gone too soon. A wife is now without her husband. Two babies are without their father,’ she added.

‘Their families right now are feeling unspeakable pain but watching this department and those families sticking close together as a village has definitely showed me what the indomitable power of the human spirit is and can mean during times like this.’

Lewis was charged with homicide of a law enforcement officer and murder in Seiber’s death, along with 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder and other related offenses.

Krasner said he will be held without bail, with a preliminary arraignment and bail hearing expected to take place ‘in the near future.’

Lewis was a city employee who worked for the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), with the union representing him confirming his employment to NBC10 Philadelphia.

It said it was ‘deeply shaken’ by the shooting, which killed Officer Shane Seiber and wounded his partner, adding that it would cooperate fully with detectives.

‘District Council 33 is deeply shaken by the tragic shooting involving two Philadelphia police officers, including Officer Shane Seiber, who was killed in the line of duty,’ union officials said in a statement.

Proud parents: Lewis was charged with homicide of a law enforcement officer and murder in Seiber’s (pictured) death, along with 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer

Profound loss: Mayor Cherelle Parker (pictured) said during Saturday’s news conference: ‘A 40-year-old servant leader of our Philadelphia village is gone too soon. A wife is now without her husband. Two babies are without their father’

Shocking crime: The district attorney said Lewis will be held without bail, with a preliminary arraignment and bail hearing expected to take place ‘in the near future’

Serving his country: A memorial page created in Seiber’s honor revealed that he was also a military veteran who served a 10-year tour

‘We extend our heartfelt condolences to Officer Seiber’s family, loved ones, and colleagues, and we offer our sincere well-wishes for the full recovery of the officer who survived,’ it added.

‘Both officers are public servants and city employees, and this profound loss and suffering are felt across our entire municipal workforce.’

The fatal attack prompted a wave of responses from state and local leaders, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

‘Our law enforcement officers are the very best of us. They put their lives on the line every day, running towards danger to keep their fellow Pennsylvanians safe, not knowing if they will return home,’ Shapiro said in a statement on X.

‘We owe them our deepest gratitude,’ he added. ‘I’ve ordered US and Pennsylvania flags on all Commonwealth grounds to fly at half-staff in honor of Officer Seiber’s memory – may it forever be a blessing.’

Court records reveal Lewis has a criminal history stretching back to 2012. In 2015, he admitted guilt to weapons offenses stemming from an incident two years earlier, including carrying a firearm in public.

It was unclear early Sunday if he had retained an attorney.

He received five years of probation and was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol assessments and a mental health evaluation.

Following Saturday’s press conference, officers and others gathered for a procession honoring Seiber.

A memorial page created in the fallen officer’s honor revealed that he was also a military veteran who served a 10-year tour.