Philadelphia Officer Shot 12 Times Released From Hospital
Officer Hector Rodriguez, who survived a brutal ambush that killed his partner, was discharged from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center two weeks after the incident.
Philadelphia Police Officer Hector Rodriguez, 33, has been released from the hospital two weeks after he and his partner were ambushed in West Philadelphia. Rodriguez was shot 12 times during the incident on October 10, while his partner, Officer Shane Seiber, 40, was killed.
Rodriguez was discharged from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center on Saturday morning. A crowd of medical staff, law enforcement officers, and community members gathered outside the hospital to applaud his release. First Deputy Commissioner John M. Stanford Jr. described the moment as a "moment of joy" following the "tears of sadness" at Seiber's funeral.
Rodriguez and Seiber were responding to a report of an armed man on a porch shortly after midnight on October 10 when they were allegedly fired upon by 35-year-old Eric Lewis. Seiber sustained three gunshot wounds and died at the hospital. Rodriguez, despite being shot 12 times, survived and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Lewis fled the scene but was apprehended after a three-and-a-half-hour manhunt. He was taken into custody hiding in a tree, according to police. Authorities recovered a shotgun, two handguns, including Rodriguez's stolen department-issued weapon, and Lewis's 9mm "ghost gun."
Lewis faces over 80 state charges, including homicide of a law enforcement officer and murder for Seiber's death, as well as multiple counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer. He has also been charged with five federal firearm offenses, including theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon, as he had a prior felony conviction.
Records indicate Lewis has a criminal history dating back to 2012, with previous weapons offense convictions. He was employed by the Philadelphia Water Department.
Seiber, who left behind a wife and two young children, was honored at a funeral service shortly before Rodriguez's release. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Seiber's honor and commended the bravery of law enforcement officers.
Online fundraisers have been established to support the families of both officers. As of early Monday, Seiber's fundraiser had garnered over $210,000, while Rodriguez's fundraiser had received more than $61,000.