Eric Lewis, the 35-year-old city employee who has been charged with firing at 11 Philadelphia police officers, killing one and injuring another, has a criminal history including previous weapons, theft and disorderly conduct charges, according to court records.
Philadelphia Police DepartmentPhiladelphia Police Department
Police have released this image of 35-year-old Eric Lewis. Lewis faces charges of murder, attempted murder, and numerous related offenses in the shooting death of Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber
Lewis, who worked for the Philadelphia Water Department, is facing 76 criminal charges for the ambush of Philadelphia police officers just after midnight on Saturday in West Philadelphia, according to court documents. The charges include homicide of a law enforcement and murder for the killing of 40-year-old Officer Shane Seiber, as well as 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder, terroristic threats and other related charges.
Lewis has also been found guilty of several crimes in the past, including weapons charges and theft, according to court documents.
In 2012, Lewis was arrested and charged with theft by unlawful taking – movable property and receiving stolen property, which were both downgraded to misdemeanors, according to court documents. Lewis was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to a maximum of two years of probation in the case.
And, in 2013, Lewis was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors, including carrying firearms in public, possessing an instrument of a crime with intent and simple assault, according to court documents. Lewis was sentenced in 2015 to a maximum of five years probation, with a minimum of three years.
Lewis also plead guilty in 2018 to disorderly conduct, engaging in a fight and was sentenced to a maximum of 12 months on probation, according to court documents.
Any other potential interactions with police are not included in his official court record.
Lewis was arraigned on Sunday, Oct. 11, for the deadly ambush of Philadelphia police officers and was denied bail. His next court date is set for Oct. 26, 2026.
NBC10’s Kelsey Kushner has the latest details after an armed gunman shot and killed Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber and injured another in a shooting that happened on North 52nd Street in West Philly on Saturday.
Officer Seiber
Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber has been identified as a 40-year-old married father of two children, 7-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.
Seiber was a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department and has also been identified as an Air Force veteran who served at Dover Air Force Base from 2007 to 2015.