Accused Philadelphia Cop Killer Eric Lewis Indicted on Federal Gun and Robbery Charges

Eric Lewis, the man accused of ambushing two Philadelphia police officers this month, killing Officer Shane Seiber and wounding his partner, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on gun and robbery charges, federal prosecutors announced.

The five federal counts include interference with interstate commerce by robbery, known as Hobbs Act robbery; using, carrying and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a stolen firearm; and theft of a firearm, 6abc Philadelphia reported. If convicted, Lewis, 35, faces a maximum of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years, according to Fox News and 6abc.

The federal case comes on top of state charges that include murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder and 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, Fox News reported. In all, Lewis faces 76 state charges and has been ordered held without bail, according to Fox News.

What Police Say Eric Lewis Did in the Ambush

The shooting happened in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 10, when officers were dispatched to a report of a man with a gun, according to Fox News. Police allege Lewis ambushed Seiber and his partner, Officer Hector Rodriguez III, killing Seiber and wounding Rodriguez, 6abc reported.

Lewis then allegedly took Rodriguez's gun before fleeing and is accused of shooting at other officers as he tried to escape, according to 6abc. Fox News reported that Rodriguez was shot 12 times and remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Seiber, 40, was an Air Force veteran who served 10 years with the Philadelphia Police Department. He was posthumously promoted to sergeant, which was announced at his funeral this week, 6abc reported. Fellow officers paid their respects at the service on Tuesday, Oct. 20, according to Fox News.

U.S. Attorney: 'No One Attacks Law Enforcement Without Facing the Consequences'

David Metcalf, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced the indictment at a news conference Thursday.

"Under federal law, Eric Lewis is not allowed to possess a firearm. He is a convicted felon under federal law. He is certainly not allowed to steal a firearm, and under federal law, he is certainly prohibited from using any firearm to rob, shoot, and kill a police officer, as a result of those actions," Metcalf said, according to Fox News.

"No one attacks law enforcement without facing the consequences," he said.

An indictment is an allegation, and Lewis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Image: Oleg Yunakov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Sources: Fox News, "Accused Philadelphia cop killer Eric Lewis faces new federal gun, robbery charges after deadly ambush" (Oct. 22, 2026): https://www.foxnews.com/us/accused-philadelphia-cop-killer-eric-lewis-faces-new-federal-gun-robbery-charges-deadly-ambush ; 6abc Philadelphia, "Man accused of shooting 2 Philadelphia police officers indicted by federal grand jury" (Oct. 22, 2026): https://6abc.com/post/eric-lewis-man-accused-shooting-2-philadelphia-police-officers-indicted-federal-grand-jury/19969187/