A Philadelphia police officer has died after he and a colleague were shot during an early-morning confrontation in West Philadelphia, officials said.
Shane Seiber, 40, was shot three times in the incident on the 100 block of North 52nd Street at about 1am on Saturday. He had served with the force for 10 years and had two children.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Seiber’s wife was with him at hospital. “He fought valiantly, but he lost his life today,” Mr Bethel said at a news conference.
The officers had been responding to a call about a man with a gun on the porch of a home when they came under heavy fire, Mr Bethel said. Both were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Centre for surgery.
The second officer, a 33-year-old father of five, was shot 12 times. His name and condition were not disclosed in the information provided.
Following the initial exchange of gunfire, more officers arrived and closed in on the suspect, who fired at them several times. Police later pulled him from a tree and arrested him.
Three guns were recovered at the scene: two handguns and a shotgun. One of the handguns had reportedly been taken from one of the wounded officers.
Seiber had recently completed SWAT training and had hoped to transfer to the unit, according to police sources. Mayor Cherelle Parker said the shooting highlighted the dangers officers face and urged the public to pray for their recovery.
