Slain Philadelphia Officer Grew Up In Levittown

A Philadelphia police officer shot and killed in an ambush early Saturday morning was raised in the Levittown area.

Officer Shane Seiber, 40, a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, died at a hospital after being shot three times early Saturday morning, officials said.

A second officer, 33, was shot 12 times and remains hospitalized, police said.

The suspect, Eric Lewis, 35, of Philadelphia, was charged over the weekend with murder, aggravated assault, and related offenses stemming from the 11 officers fired upon during the incident, according to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Seiber and fellow officers were dispatched to the 100 block of North 52nd Street around 12:20 a.m. Saturday for a report of an armed man. Once officers stepped onto the porch, the officers were fired upon before the gunman fled, police said.

Lewis was later apprehended in a tree during a post-shooting manhunt, police said.

Officers recovered two firearms at the scene, including one Lewis allegedly took from an officer he shot, police said.

Seiber grew up in Langhorne and Levittown after being born in Trenton, according to his obituary.

A resident of Bensalem Township, he attended Carl Sandburg Middle School and Neshaminy High School through 10th grade in the Neshaminy School District, district spokesperson Chris Stanley said, adding records prior to seventh grade were not immediately available.

Seiber joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the 436th Security Forces stationed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Seiber completed two deployments to Iraq, from 2007 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2009.

In 2016, Seiber joined the Philadelphia Police Department, where he served in the 19th and 22nd Police Districts.

A GoFundMe for the fallen officer’s wife and family has been started. It has received more than $78,000 as of Tuesday morning.

“Outside of his service to his country and community, Shane enjoyed video gaming, especially World of Warcraft. He also enjoyed exercising and practicing jui jitsu,” his obituary read. “Shane had a remarkable ability to bring a smile to everyone’s face and make anyone laugh. Known affectionately by the nickname ‘Colgate’ for his ever-present smile, he brought joy to the lives of those around him.”

Philadelphia Police Department Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Seiber was married and had a 3-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son.

The surviving 33-year-old officer has five children.

“This will be a period of mourning for us, but we will stand tall as a department and get through this together,” Bethel said. “He fought valiantly but he lost his life.”

Krasner called the shooting a “difficult time” for the city.

The district attorney said his office is continuing its investigation into the fatal ambush.

Lewis, an employee of the Philadelphia Water Department, had prior arrests between 2013 and 2020 for guns, drugs, and assault, according to court records.

In 2019, Lewis was charged with the fatal shooting of a motorist who honked at him, but he was acquitted during trial for issues involving evidence and testimony, as reported by NBC 10 and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered state flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Seiber.

“Lori and I are praying for Officer Seiber’s loved ones and the entire @PhillyPolice family as they grieve the loss of one of their brothers in uniform,” Shapiro said in a statement. “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. We owe them our deepest gratitude.”

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said that “Officer Seiber’s life of service will never be forgotten and will forever be missed.”

“We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to all of the first responders who put their lives on the line to protect us each day. May God watch over and protect them,” said Archbishop of Philadelphia Nelson J. Pérez.

Public viewings for Seiber are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the John F. Givnish Life Celebration Home on Academy Road in Philadelphia, and Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 8:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. A Funeral Liturgy Outside Mass will take place at noon Tuesday, with private interment services.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.