Suspect in Philadelphia police ambush faces 76 charges, including murder
Eric Lewis, 35, is charged with murder and 75 other counts in a Saturday ambush on Philadelphia police. Officer Shane Seiber, 40, was killed and his partner was hurt. Prosecutors say Lewis also shot at nine more officers, and he is due in court Oct. 26.
Eric Lewis, 35, faces 76 charges, including murder, in the killing of Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber. Lewis was arraigned Sunday.
Seiber and his partner went to a home on the 100 block of North 52nd Street in West Philadelphia early Saturday. A neighbor had called 911 about a person with a gun. The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing a law enforcement source, reported that Lewis walked up behind the officers and asked why they were on his porch. A brief struggle followed, and he shot them.
Seiber, 40, was shot three times and died hours later at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. A 10-year veteran of the department, he leaves a wife and two young children. His partner, 33, was shot 12 times and remains in the hospital.
Prosecutors say Lewis then fired at nine more officers who rushed to the block. He was arrested after a standoff of nearly an hour, found up a tree behind his home. Police said they recovered a shotgun and two handguns. At least one gun belonged to an officer he shot.
"I did what I did because they did what they did," Lewis said, according to an arrest report the Inquirer obtained.
District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the charges Saturday. They include homicide of a law enforcement officer and 10 counts each of attempted homicide and attempted murder. Lewis worked for the Philadelphia Water Department. Court records show convictions in a 2012 theft case and a 2013 case that included carrying a gun in public.
Lewis was denied bail and is being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. His next court date is Oct. 26, NBC10 reported.
What we know: One officer is dead, another is badly hurt, and Lewis faces 76 charges after allegedly firing at 11 officers.
What we don't: What led to the first 911 call, and whether Lewis has entered a plea.
Where outlets agree The Philadelphia Inquirer and NBC10 both report that Lewis is charged with murdering Officer Shane Seiber and attempting to murder 10 other officers.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.