Fastrack · Philadelphia Gunman Ambushes Police, Killing One Officer

A gunman shot two Philadelphia police officers early Saturday after they stepped onto a porch on North 52nd Street. Police later found a suspect in a tree.

12 shots hit a 33-year-old officer, Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.
3 shots hit a 40-year-old officer, Bethel said.
2 more officers came under fire approaching the house, Bethel said.
3 guns were recovered, including one taken from an officer.

Why it matters: The officers were answering a report of a man with a gun on a porch. Accounts of their conditions conflict.

The New York Post reported one officer died; police had not said which.
The Inquirer reported both officers in critical condition and in surgery.

How 19 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 19 sources

19 sources · 21 articles · 58% Right coverage

Where they split: The core factual dispute is whether one officer was killed, as the New York Post reported, or both remain in critical condition, as the Inquirer reported.

Center3 sources

PennLive4hPhiladelphia IDs police officer who died hours after ambush shooting abc27 (WHTM)3hPhiladelphia police officer killed, another injured after responding to reports of man with a gun WGAL 85hPhiladelphia police officer killed in overnight shooting

Left coverage, 5 sources: The left frames it as a local story about the wounded officers, the neighborhood, and a suspect who sources say works for the city.

The Philadelphia Inquirer7hTwo police officers shot in West Philly; sources ID suspect as water department employee CNN2hPhiladelphia police officer killed, another injured after responding to reports of man with a gun The Boston Globe3hPhiladelphia police officer killed, another injured The Guardian2hMan with gun kills one Philadelphia police officer and injures another The New York Times4hOne Officer Killed, Another Shot 12 Times in Philadelphia Ambush...

Right coverage, 11 sources: The right frames it as a violent ambush on officers, focusing on the number of shots and the officers' families.

Fox News10hPhiladelphia police officers shot 15 times combined in ambush attack, suspect found hiding in tree New York Post8hOne cop dead, another in critical condition after being ambushed by Philadelphia gunman Just the News1hTwo Philadelphia police officers shot multiple times Breitbart News6hOfficer Killed, Second Officer Wounded in Saturday Morning Ambush PJ Media5hPhiladelphia Officer Dead, Another Critically Injured After Ambush RedState7hBreaking: One Philadelphia Officer Killed, Another Critical After Ambush; Suspect in Custody The Daily Wire22hGunman Kills Philadelphia Police Officer, Shoots Another 12 Times The Gateway Pundit6hPhiladelphia Cop Gunned Down in Late Night Ambush by City Employee, Partner Shot 12 Times and Fighting for His Life * The Gateway Pundit * by Cassandra MacDonald The Post Millennial4hPhilly cop killed, another hospitalized in shooting ambush from city water department employee: report Townhall10hOne Officer Killed, Another Wounded Following Ambush Shooting in Philadelphia Washington Examiner2hTwo Philadelphia cops shot 15 times in ambush, leaving one dead

What’s next: Police have not publicly named the suspect. Law enforcement sources told the Inquirer he is Eric Lewis, a Philadelphia Water Department employee.

The mayor's office declined to comment on his employment.
Did one of the officers die, and if so, which one?
Did the suspect surrender or was he taken by SWAT officers?
What charges will the suspect face?