When his staff suggested holding a fundraiser for the family of a slain Philadelphia police officer and Bucks County resident, who died in the line of duty Oct. 10 he didn’t hesitate with an answer.
“I thought, absolutely,” said Patrick McConney, owner E-House, a popular Bensalem restaurant. “I just get it. I appreciate the sacrifices.”
The Hulmeville Road restaurant is donating 20% of its sales on Monday, joining a growing number of area businesses, organizations and strangers fundraising for the family of the late Shane Seiber, of Bensalem.
No viewing or funeral plans had been announced as of Monday for Seiber, 40, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and married father of two young children, one a Bensalem school student.
In aletter to the community Monday,
Superintendent Victoria Velazquez offered condolences to the family and the officer's colleagues at the Philadelphia Police Department.
“Tragedies such as this remind us how deeply connected we are as a community and how important it is to care for one another, particularly in moments of profound grief,” Velazquez wrote. “I ask that our Bensalem Township School District community keep the Seiber family in your thoughts and surround them with compassion, kindness, and understanding while respecting their need for privacy during this unimaginable time.”
Seiber marked his 10th anniversary with the Philadelphia Police Department last month. He is the fourth Philadelphia police officerkilled in the line of duty since 2023, according to the department.
He was fatally wounded after he and another unidentified Philadelphia officer on duty responded to a report of an armed man at a West Philadelphia home.
As the officers were knocking on the door, the suspect, Eric Lewis, 35, came up behind them with a firearm. A struggle ensued during which both officers were shot multiple times, according to Philadelphia police.
Additional police response was met with more gunfire followed and a barricade with SWAT response, before Lewis was eventually taken into custody; he is being held without bail on homicide of a law enforcement officer and 10 counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer and related charges.
The responding officers found Seiber and the second officer bleeding and unresponsive on the front porch.
They were rushed to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where Seiber died hours later from three gunshot wounds. The second officer, a 33-year-old man, shot 12 times, survived, but remained hospitalized in critical condition.
A GoFundMecampaign for the family described Seiber as a man who “adored his family fiercely.”
“Shane was so much more than the uniform. He was loving, funny, and charismatic, the kind of person who lit up every room he walked into and could make anyone laugh,” campaign organizer Jessica Wagner said.
As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe had raised more than $6,000 of its $10,000 goal. The money will help Seiber’s wife with immediate expenses and “the long road ahead.”
Other Philadelphia area businesses who’ve raised money for the family include:
- The Brass Tap and The Rook, both in Manayunk, donated a portion of their proceeds from Sunday sales to Seiber's family, according to CBSNews.
- Originals Restaurant in Philadelphia, located just over the Bensalem border, donated all its vendor fees from its first annual Fall Harvest Sunday to the family.
- The Drunk Phils Fanspodcast community has raised at least $2,000 and will donate 100% of its merchandise sales through Oct. 31.
- ASupportnow page has raised nearly $3,000 of a $10,000 goal as of Monday morning.
- An Amazon wish listhas items for the Seiber children.
Crime and Courts Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Community rallies for fallen Philly police officer, Bensalem resident
