Philadelphia DA Faces Scrutiny After Man Acquitted of Murder Accused of Killing Officer

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's office is pursuing multiple charges against Eric Lewis, 35, who is accused of murdering Police Officer Shane Seiber and critically wounding his partner. Lewis had previously been acquitted of a 2019 murder charge in 2023 after prosecutors failed to present key evidence in his trial.

Officer Seiber, a 10-year veteran of the force, died Saturday morning after responding to a report of an armed man. He was shot three times. His partner, also a responding officer, was shot 12 times and is in stable condition. Both officers were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where Seiber succumbed to his injuries. Mayor Cherelle Parker stated that Seiber, 40, was a "servant leader" who leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Lewis faces charges including homicide of a law enforcement officer, murder, and 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer. He was apprehended early Saturday after a manhunt, found hiding in a tree with two handguns and a shotgun. Police recovered one of the weapons belonging to the officers he allegedly shot.

In 2019, Lewis was charged with the murder of Christopher Williams, 32. Prosecutors alleged that Lewis blocked Williams' Jeep with his vehicle before opening fire, killing him. A witness identified Lewis as the shooter, and police had video of Lewis's vehicle in the area. However, prosecutors did not present cell phone location records for Lewis at trial. The judge found prosecutors failed to prove Lewis's guilt, leading to his acquittal in 2023. The judge later contacted the Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit regarding the investigation.

Williams' mother expressed devastation, stating, "They had him in 2023. They freed that murderer, and it took him three years to come back and do it again." She noted that the case had been handled by multiple prosecutors and that the assistant district attorney was "passive" during the trial.

Lewis has a criminal history dating back to 2012, including convictions for weapons offenses for which he received probation in 2015. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 26.

Krasner, a progressive prosecutor who has received financial backing from George Soros-backed PACs, has served as Philadelphia's district attorney since 2018. While the city recorded a high number of homicides in 2021, killings have since decreased. Critics have pointed to his office's policies regarding non-prosecution of certain offenses.