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West Philadelphia officer Hector Rodriguez remains hospitalized after being shot 12 times
Officer Hector Rodriguez was wounded in the Oct. 10 shooting that killed fellow Philadelphia officer Shane Seiber. Police say Rodriguez remains hospitalized as he undergoes treatment; a suspect has been charged in the attack.
Philadelphia police Officer Hector Rodriguez remained hospitalized Thursday, five days after he was shot 12 times in a West Philadelphia shooting that killed fellow officer Shane Seiber, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.
Rodriguez, 33, was wounded early Oct. 10 on the 100 block of North 52nd Street. He is a father of five. Seiber, a 10-year department veteran and father of two, died in the shooting.
Eric Lewis has been arrested and charged with killing Seiber, wounding Rodriguez and shooting at nine other officers, none of whom were injured, according to the police account. Lewis was acquitted in an earlier murder case. District Attorney Larry Krasner said this week that case involved a “deeply troubled investigation,” including a romantic relationship between another officer and a person connected to the case.
An online fundraiser for Rodriguez’s family says he is undergoing numerous surgeries and “fighting for his life.” Police, the city and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 are providing support to the officers’ families. The Police Department said it is working with GoFundMe to help guard against fraudulent fundraisers.
The shooting has left one officer dead and another seriously wounded, while also putting renewed attention on the handling of the earlier case involving Lewis.