Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Tuesday criticized the police investigation into the 2019 killing of Christopher Williams in West Philadelphia, citing what he called “troubling and deficient” conduct in a case that ended with Eric Lewis’ acquittal in 2023. Lewis is now charged in the killing of Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seibel. The charge in Seibel’s death remains an allegation; Lewis was acquitted of Williams’ murder. Williams was shot on the 900 block of North Fallon Street in 2019. Family members and other sources said Lewis was double-parked outside his mother’s home when Williams honked his horn. After an argument, Lewis allegedly went to Williams’ vehicle and fired into it. A passenger in the vehicle survived and witnessed the shooting. Krasner said a police officer connected to the Williams investigation had a relationship with Lewis’ sister and tried to undermine his own testimony. The officer was identified as former 15th District officer Naeem Crawley. According to sources, Crawley had identified Lewis as a possible suspect to homicide detectives, but failed to appear in court and allegedly gave a false explanation for his absence. Krasner also accused the officer of trying to inject fabricated information into the case, including a claim about an anonymous tip naming a person called “Spice” as the killer. “Some of the conduct involving an officer and one of the detectives is arguably criminal,” Krasner said. The case also included an eyewitness who identified Lewis in photographs and recalled that he had a stutter, according to sources. Lewis’ brother had described his stutter in public comments earlier this week. Crawley was not central to the prosecution’s case, sources said. The report said he was not charged with a crime, and questions remain about why prosecutors did not withdraw the charges before trial despite concerns about the investigation. A Police Internal Affairs investigation followed. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel used a process known as Direct Action to fire Crawley, who is challenging his dismissal; the Fraternal Order of Police is not representing him in that effort. Krasner defended his office’s handling of the prosecution while condemning the investigation. Lewis was acquitted in 2023. The allegations about Crawley and the police work raise questions about oversight and the reliability of investigative practices in a homicide case that affected Williams’ family and the West Philadelphia community.