Officers faced ‘significant gunfire’ after responding to call early Saturday
Officers received a call at 12:22 a.m. about a man with a gun on a porch at 140 N. 52nd St., Bethel said at an earlier news conference. Officers arrived on scene 30 minutes later, and were met with “significant gunfire” once they approached the porch, he added.
The suspect fired at officers additional times, Bethel said, and the department’s SWAT team responded to contain the suspect, who was found in a tree and apprehended.
Bethel said that he is “so damn proud of the men and women who serve in this department.”
“Consistently, they go into danger, and they give their lives for this job,” he said. “And so we ask for those prayers, and we ask for you to support our men and women out there, and what they give for this profession.”
City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents the 3rd District, where the shooting occurred, said at a news conference Saturday afternoon that the shooting was “a tragic, senseless incident.”
“We’ve been doing so much work in this area, the community, along with Philadelphia Community Outreach Committee, the 19th District, the 16th District, the 18th, to chase away drug traffic, to drive down shootings,” she said. “We have made such a measurable impact in the area. And so, beyond the fact that this is incredibly tragic, it feels even more tragic because the community has been working so hard here to make things safer.”
Shapiro orders flags flown at half-staff in Philadelphia police officer’s memory
Elected officials from across the city and state expressed their condolences online.
“Lori and I are praying for Officer Seiber’s loved ones and the entire [Philadelphia Police Department] family as they grieve the loss of one of their brothers in uniform,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote in a post on X.
Shapiro said he has ordered all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags in the commonwealth to fly at half-staff in Seiber’s memory.
“Our law enforcement officers are the very best of us,” he wrote. “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.”
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said in a post on X that the shooting is “a stark reminder of the dangerous job our law enforcement has in keeping us all safe — and why we should always be grateful for their service.”
Fellow U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick joined Fetterman in sharing his condolences in a post on X.
“Philadelphia lost a hero today. We will never forget his sacrifice,” he wrote.
U.S. Rep Dwight Evans, who represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, where the shooting occurred, wrote in a post on X that he is “praying for the family of Officer Seiber, and for a full recovery for the other officer.”
“I’m grateful for the service of our police, who so often put themselves at risk to protect the entire community,” he wrote.