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Philadelphia police officer killed, second wounded; suspect Eric Lewis charged

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 17 outlets, mostly right-leaning (71%).

23 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Night street scene with many police vehicles, flashing lights, and a van marked POLICE.
Image via CBS NewsHow images are chosenReport this image

Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber, 40, was killed and a second officer, 33, was wounded early Saturday in West Philadelphia after officers responded to a report of an armed man, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said. Police said the second officer was shot 12 times. A suspect, Eric Lewis, 35, was arrested at the scene, and District Attorney Larry Krasner said he faces homicide and attempted murder charges. Right-leaning outlets also report that Lewis was acquitted in 2023 of a 2019 murder charge. The district attorney's office says a judge found him not guilty because of a deficient investigation, and Krasner has blamed an investigating officer whom he says secretly dated Lewis's sister.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Officer Shane Seiber, 40, was killed and a second officer was wounded early Saturday in West Philadelphia, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.

    Reported byLeft3Center1Right2Far Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times, ABC News, The Guardian
    Center
    Straight Arrow News
    Right
    Daily Mail, New York Post
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire, Breitbart News, RedState

  2. Officers were shot while responding to a report of an armed man, police said.

    Reported byLeft4Center1Right2Far Right5See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    CBS News, The New York Times, ABC News, The Guardian
    Center
    Straight Arrow News
    Right
    Daily Mail, New York Post
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire, Fox News, Breitbart News, RedState

  3. The second officer, 33, was wounded; police said he was shot 12 times.

    Reported byLeft2Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    CBS News, The New York Times
    Right
    Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Just the News, Fox News

  4. Eric Lewis, 35, was arrested at the scene; District Attorney Larry Krasner said he has been charged with homicide of a law enforcement officer and attempted murder.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    Daily Mail, New York Post
    Far Right
    Just the News

  5. Lewis was acquitted in 2023 of a murder charge from a 2019 shooting.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    Daily Mail, New York Post

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The 2023 acquittal of Eric Lewis on a 2019 murder charge reflects a failure by the district attorney's office.

    Right-leaning coverage says the DA's office failed to present crucial evidence and let the suspect walk free. The district attorney's office says prosecutors did everything possible and that a judge acquitted Lewis because of a deficient investigation, which Krasner blames on an officer he says secretly dated Lewis's sister.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that Officer Shane Seiber, 40, was killed and a second officer wounded early Saturday, and that a suspect was arrested. Left and center headlines stick to the shooting, while many right headlines focus on the suspect's prior case and the district attorney's handling of it.

  • the left

    4 outlets

    Straight news headlines that lead with the officer's death or the shooting, with less emphasis on the suspect and no mention of his earlier case.

    One Philadelphia Police Officer Killed, Another Shot 12 Times in Ambush Attack
    The New York TimesLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    A single flat headline that states the death and the wounding and calls the attack an ambush, with no framing of the suspect or prosecutors.

    1 Philadelphia officer killed, another critically wounded in ambush
    Straight Arrow NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    12 outlets · 1 opinion

    Headlines split between plain death reports and ones that focus on the suspect's prior case and the district attorney's handling of it, with the sharpest wording at the far end.

    Loaded modifier“Blundering”Pre-judges the prosecutor's handling of the 2019 case before the dispute over it is settled.More neutral: Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner's officeDisagree with this highlight? Loaded modifier“Soros-backed”Ties the prosecutor to a funder through a label that implies control, which the article does not establish.More neutral: Philadelphia DA Larry KrasnerDisagree with this highlight? Philly DA let suspected murderer walk free in 2023... now he's accused of killing a police officer
    Daily MailRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right12

    cop killerbrazen ambushcrazed gunmanstaggering 12 gunshot wounds

In the outlets’ own words

  • Dehumanizing label

    cop killerMore neutral: suspect in the killing of an officer

    The label presents the accused as a convicted killer of police in the outlet’s own voice, before any trial.

    A Philadelphia cop killer who killed one officer and injured multiple others during an incident early Saturday…

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)New York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    brazen ambushMore neutral: ambush

    Brazen adds a judgement about the attackers' intent that the reported facts do not establish.

    Municipal worker charged with killing Philadelphia cop, wounding another in brazen ambush

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    crazed gunmanMore neutral: gunman

    The word crazed labels the suspect’s state of mind before any evaluation has been reported.

    …was fatally shot and another is fighting for his life after an ambush attack by a crazed gunman early Saturday morning.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    staggering 12 gunshot woundsMore neutral: 12 gunshot wounds

    The adjective adds drama to a count that the sentence already gives in full.

    His partner is a 33-year-old father of five children, and he sustained a staggering 12 gunshot wounds, though he survived.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

Show 8 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Dehumanizing label

    Smiling thugMore neutral: Man accused

    Calling the arrested man a thug and stressing his smile before the facts are tried labels him as a criminal in the outlet’s own voice.

    Smiling thug accused of fatally shooting Philly cop in ambush; officer had wife, 2 young…

    Used byTheBlaze (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    AdmitsMore neutral: Says

    The verb presents a reported statement as a confession in the outlet’s own voice, though the words come from a secondhand account.

    Alleged Philadelphia Cop Killer Admits He Targeted White Officers – Would Not Have Shot Black Cops

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    because they were whiteMore neutral: allegedly because, according to a law enforcement source, they were white

    The excerpt states the suspect’s motive as fact, though it rests on an unnamed law enforcement source relayed by the Inquirer.

    …allegedly shot and killed a Philadelphia police officer and injured another because they were white on Saturday, a report shows.

    Used byThe Daily Caller (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    BlunderingMore neutral: Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner's office

    Pre-judges the prosecutor's handling of the 2019 case before the dispute over it is settled.

    Blundering Soros-backed Philly DA let suspected murderer walk free in 2023...

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Soros-backedMore neutral: Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner

    Ties the prosecutor to a funder through a label that implies control, which the article does not establish.

    Blundering Soros-backed Philly DA let suspected murderer walk free in 2023...

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    heinouslyMore neutral: fatally

    Adds a moral judgement about the attack that the account of it does not need.

    The Philadelphia city worker who heinously gunned down one police officer and left another critically wounded in an early…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    woke district attorneyMore neutral: district attorney

    Labels the prosecutor by political ideology in the outlet's own voice, which the reported facts do not require.

    …charge tossed when police tried to “torpedo” the investigation, the city’s woke district attorney claimed.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    dodgedMore neutral: had earlier cases end without conviction

    Implies deliberate evasion where the excerpt describes earlier cases that were dismissed or ended in acquittal.

    Accused Philadelphia cop killer — who’s employed by the city — dodged prior cases amid police misconduct claims: DA

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Words quoted from someone else (1)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    These patriotsMore neutral: These officers

    Calling the officers patriots praises them in the writer’s voice, while the event itself only establishes that they were shot.

    …US 💔 Pray for the family and that the second officer makes a full recovery 🙏🏻 These patriots can encounter the absolute worst case scenario at any given moment.

    Quoted byTownhall (Far Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

4 outlets

Leads with

  • The officer's death
  • The shooting of two officers
  • The man with a gun

Leaves out

  • Lewis's 2019 murder charge and 2023 acquittal
  • The district attorney's comments on the earlier case

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The GuardianLeftAssociated Press report

    Man with gun kills one Philadelphia police officer and injures another

    10-year police veteran Shane Seiber was killed after responding to a report of a man with a gun A Philadelphia police officer was fatally shot and another was wounded on Saturday after responding to a report of a man with a gun, authorities said. …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeftAssociated Press report

    Philadelphia cop killed, another hurt responding to reports of man with gun

    The officers were responding to a report of a man with a gun, police said.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    One Philadelphia Police Officer Killed, Another Shot 12 Times in Ambush Attack

    Two officers responding to a call were shot multiple times as they reached the scene. Officials said they took “significant fire.”

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Gunman shoots 2 police officers in West Philadelphia

    Two Philadelphia police officers were hurt in a shooting in West Philadelphia early Saturday morning. One officer was hit 12 times.

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • The officer's death
  • The ambush
  • The suspect in custody

Leaves out

  • Lewis's 2019 murder charge and 2023 acquittal

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

12 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • The district attorney's handling of the 2019 case
  • The suspect's prior record
  • The ambush and the officer's death
See the 15 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • New York PostRight

    Accused Philadelphia Dehumanizing label“cop killer”Labels the man a killer in a headline before the case is tried; the reported fact is that he is accused.More neutral: man accused of killing an officerDisagree with this highlight? — who’s employed by the city — Loaded verb“dodged”Implies deliberate evasion where the excerpt describes earlier cases that were dismissed or ended in acquittal.More neutral: had earlier cases end without convictionDisagree with this highlight? prior cases amid police misconduct claims: DA

    The Philadelphia city worker who heinously gunned down one police officer and left another critically wounded in an early Saturday morning ambush had a prior murder charge tossed when police tried to "torpedo" the investigation, the city's woke district attorney claimed.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
    2 more from New York Post
  • Daily MailRight

    Loaded modifier“Blundering”Pre-judges the prosecutor's handling of the 2019 case before the dispute over it is settled.More neutral: Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner's officeDisagree with this highlight? Loaded modifier“Soros-backed”Ties the prosecutor to a funder through a label that implies control, which the article does not establish.More neutral: Philadelphia DA Larry KrasnerDisagree with this highlight? Philly DA let suspected murderer walk free in 2023... now he's accused of killing a police officer

    Eric Lewis, 35, allegedly murdered Shane Seiber, a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, on Saturday morning after shooting him three times.

    Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily CallerFar Right

    Black Man Arrested For Killing Philadelphia Police Officer Says He Targeted Victim For Being White: REPORT

    A black man named Eric Lewis allegedly shot and killed a Philadelphia police officer and injured another Absolutist framing“because they were white”The excerpt states the suspect’s motive as fact, though it rests on an unnamed law enforcement source relayed by the Inquirer.More neutral: allegedly because, according to a law enforcement source, they were whiteDisagree with this highlight? on Saturday, a report shows. …

    Read at The Daily Caller (opens in a new tab)
  • The Western JournalFar Right

    Alleged Philadelphia Dehumanizing label“Cop Killer”The label presents the accused as a convicted killer of police in the outlet’s own voice, before any trial.More neutral: Suspect in officer’s killingDisagree with this highlight? Loaded verb“Admits”The verb presents a reported statement as a confession in the outlet’s own voice, though the words come from a secondhand account.More neutral: SaysDisagree with this highlight? He Targeted White Officers – Would Not Have Shot Black Cops

    A Philadelphia cop killer who killed one officer and injured multiple others during an incident early Saturday morning later admitted to a black cop that he opened fire because the

    Read at The Western Journal (opens in a new tab)
  • TheBlazeFar Right

    Dehumanizing label“Smiling thug”Calling the arrested man a thug and stressing his smile before the facts are tried labels him as a criminal in the outlet’s own voice.More neutral: Man accusedDisagree with this highlight? accused of fatally shooting Philly cop in ambush; officer had wife, 2 young children

    A 35-year-old male accused in the ambush killing of a Philadelphia police officer over the weekend was arraigned Sunday morning on 76 charges and ordered held without bail, Fox News reported , citing court records. …

    Read at TheBlaze (opens in a new tab)
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Suspect in deadly Philadelphia police ambush faces 76 charges, ordered held without bail

    A Philadelphia man faces 76 charges, including murder, after allegedly ambushing police officers, killing one and wounding another, according to officials.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by New York Post. It counts once.

  • PJ MediaFar Right

    Philadelphia Officer Dead, Another Critically Injured After Ambush

    An ambush in West Philadelphia Saturday on a porch killed one policeman and put another in critical condition.

    Read at PJ Media (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    Two Philadelphia cops shot 15 times in ambush, leaving one dead

    One Philadelphia police officer is dead, and another is in stable condition after a gunman ambushed the two law enforcement officers early on Saturday morning, local officials said. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar Right

    Breaking: One Philadelphia Officer Killed, Another Critical After Ambush; Suspect in Custody

    In a breaking story this Saturday, two Philadelphia police officers were shot while checking into a report of a man with a gun at a home, and the suspected shooter is now in custody, according to multiple reports.

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)
  • Breitbart NewsFar Right

    Officer Killed, Second Officer Wounded in Saturday Morning Ambush

    Two Philadelphia police officers were ambushed just after midnight Saturday after responding to reports of a person with a gun.

    Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Philadelphia police officers shot 15 times combined in ambush attack, suspect found hiding in tree

    Two Philadelphia police officers were ambushed and shot multiple times on North 52nd Street. Kevin Bethel says one officer was hit 12 times.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily WireFar Right

    Gunman Kills Philadelphia Police Officer, Shoots Another 12 Times

    A Philadelphia police officer died Saturday after a gunman shot him and another officer who had answered an overnight call about an armed man in West Philadelphia, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said. …

    Read at The Daily Wire (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Two Philadelphia police officers shot multiple times

    The officers were shot while pursuing a report of an armed man on a porch.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Just the News
  • TownhallFar RightOpinion

    One Officer Killed, Another Wounded Following Ambush Shooting in Philadelphia

    Two officers were shot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in an apparent ambush on police on Saturday morning.

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRightFox News report

    Suspect in deadly Philadelphia police ambush faces 76 charges, ordered held without bail

    New York Post published a report that is shown in full at Fox News.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    CBS News, Oct 10, 6:47 AM EDT

  • Center

    3 hr 29 min later

    Its first report, Oct 10, 10:16 AM EDT

  • Right

    1 hr 14 min later

    Its first report, Oct 10, 8:01 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. CBS NewsLeftOct 10, 6:47 AM EDT
  2. The Daily WireFar RightOct 10, 8:01 AM EDT
  3. Fox NewsFar RightOct 10, 8:07 AM EDT
  4. Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 10, 10:16 AM EDT
  5. New York PostRightOct 10, 10:21 AM EDT
  6. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 10, 12:24 PM EDT
  7. The New York TimesLeftOct 10, 1:32 PM EDT
  8. ABC NewsLeftOct 10, 3:18 PM EDT
  9. RedStateFar RightOct 10, 3:44 PM EDT
  10. The GuardianLeftOct 10, 4:12 PM EDT
  11. Washington ExaminerRightOct 10, 4:25 PM EDT
  12. PJ MediaFar RightOct 10, 5:19 PM EDT
  13. TheBlazeFar RightOct 12, 2:48 PM EDT
  14. The Western JournalFar RightOct 13, 9:22 AM EDT
  15. The Daily CallerFar RightOct 13, 11:43 AM EDT
  16. Daily MailRightOct 13, 3:22 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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