Officers faced \u2018significant gunfire\u2019 after responding to call early Saturday<\/p>\n
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 \u201csignificant gunfire\u201d once they approached the porch, he added.\n<\/p>\n
The suspect fired at officers additional times, Bethel said, and the department\u2019s SWAT team responded to contain the suspect, who was found in a tree and apprehended.\n<\/p>\n
Bethel said that he is \u201cso damn proud of the men and women who serve in this department.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u201cConsistently, they go into danger, and they give their lives for this job,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd 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.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents the 3rd District, where the shooting occurred, said at a news conference Saturday afternoon that the shooting was \u201ca tragic, senseless incident.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve 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,\u201d she said. \u201cWe 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Shapiro orders flags flown at half-staff in Philadelphia police officer\u2019s memory<\/p>\n
Elected officials from across the city and state expressed their condolences online.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cLori and I are praying for Officer Seiber\u2019s loved ones and the entire [Philadelphia Police Department] family as they grieve the loss of one of their brothers in uniform,\u201d Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote in a post on X<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Shapiro said he has ordered all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags in the commonwealth to fly at half-staff in Seiber\u2019s memory.\n<\/p>\n \u201cOur law enforcement officers are the very best of us,\u201d he wrote. \u201cThey 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said in a post on X<\/a> that the shooting is \u201ca stark reminder of the dangerous job our law enforcement has in keeping us all safe \u2014 and why we should always be grateful for their service.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Fellow U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick joined Fetterman in sharing his condolences in a post on X<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \u201cPhiladelphia lost a hero today. We will never forget his sacrifice,\u201d he wrote.\n<\/p>\n