A Philadelphia police officer died from his injuries hours after a gunman opened fire on him and another officer early Saturday morning in West Philadelphia, officials said.
The fallen officer is identified as 40-year-old Shane Seiber, a 10-year veteran of the force with two children. His wife and other relatives were by his side at the hospital, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.
“He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,” said Bethel during a mid-morning news conference. “I want to say I appreciate all of the calls and all the support we received when we left out of [the hospital] this morning.
“We had an immense amount of hope.”
Philadelphia Mayor Parker, Police Commissioner Bethel share details about officer killed in shooting
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Police initially received a call around 1 a.m. for a man armed with a gun on the porch of a home on the 100 block of North 52nd Street in West Philadelphia. When officers arrived, they approached and came under heavy gunfire, Bethel said.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said the officers were “badly wounded.” They were rushed into surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
Bethel said Seiber was shot three times. Another officer, a 33-year-old father of five, was shot 12 times, said Bethel, adding that “he’s not out of the woods yet.”
Seiber had recently completed SWAT training and hoped to be transferred there, police sources told CBS News Philadelphia.
After the initial gunfire, more officers — including a SWAT team — were called to the scene and closed in on the suspect, who fired at the responding officers multiple times.
The suspect was eventually arrested after police pulled him from a tree and took him into custody.
Police recovered three guns from the scene — two handguns and a shotgun. One of the handguns had been taken from one of the officers who was shot, according to Bethel.
Parker said the incident is a reminder of the dangers police officers face on the job and urged the public to pray for the officers.
“I want to be very clear, I am grateful for their service and the reason is because for nights like tonight. We think of them as law enforcement officers, but I see mothers and fathers sons and daughters, brothers and sisters,” Parker said.
She called upon Pennsylvania state leaders to consider bills to address mental and substance abuse to help improve public safety.
“We are…[seeking] legislation that will expand involuntary commitment laws to cover not only severe mental illness, but substance use disorder and any kind of mental and/or behavioral challenge that could interfere with Philadelphia’s ability to keep itself safe,” Parker said.
“I don’t apologize for it.”
In a statement, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he ordered U.S. and state flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Seiber.
“Our law enforcement officers are the very best of us,” Shapiro said. “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.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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