Five police officers were shot, and three of them were killed while serving a warrant at a York County farm Wednesday afternoon, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
NEW | At a Thursday's news conference, York County District Attorney Tim Barker said the "actor" in the shooting was Matthew J. Ruth. Barker said he would not mention his name again and would only refer to him after that as "the actor."\The DA identified the officers who were killed as:
- Det. Sgt. Cody Becker
- Det. Isaiah Emenheiser
- Det. Mark Baker
Slain officers all from same department
The Northern York County Regional Police Department says the three slain officers worked for their department. Of the two people who are injured, one of them is also an officer for NYCRPD.
"We ask our community to keep these officers, their families, and their colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during this time of unimaginable grief," a statement on the departments website said.
The NYRCPD administrative offices are closed. Neighboring departments and state police are providing police services to municipalities typically covered by NYRCPD.
Critical condition
The two law enforcement officials wounded in Wednesday's shooting remain in critical but stable condition at WellSpan York Hospital.
The suspect, identified by the AP as Matthew James Ruth, is dead. State police said he was shot by law enforcement.
"This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day for York County and for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We grieve for the loss of life and three precious souls who served this county, served this Commonwealth, and served this country. We continue to pray for the full recovery of those who are dealing with their wounds," Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Wednesday evening.
Shapiro pointed out the shooting comes on the heels of another shooting that took the life of a York County officer earlier this year, when Officer Andrew Duarte was killed in the line of duty.
Update from PSP
The Pennsylvania State Police and the York County District Attorney’s office are continuing the investigation into the shooting death of three officers and the wounding of two others.
Significant resources from both the PSP and the York County District Attorney’s office are on scene as of 10 p.m., including District Attorney Tim Barker and staff members
The investigation spans multiple locations throughout York County.
It is expected the investigation will continue into the night and early morning hours.
An overview of the investigation will be provided later in the day on Thursday.
The public can be assured there is no ongoing threat to their safety as a result of this incident.
Active investigation
PSP Col. Christopher Paris said they are dealing with a very large and active investigative scene.
"The Pennsylvania State Police has been asked to convene a major case team to conduct the lead in this investigation, with the assistance and in collaboration and in partnership with the York County District Attorney," Paris said. "I just like to say, on a very personal note, our hearts and prayers go out to them, to the families of the deceased and the families of those officers who were wounded. There are simply no words that I can offer to assuage the grief, that this community has experienced and, unfortunately, will continue to experience. The grief will be unbearable, but we will bear it."
Paris said state police are assisting Northern York County Regional Police with their calls to support them.
Below: Watch the full news conference.
What we know
- The officers were serving the warrant at a home on Haar Road near Emig Road in a rural area of North Codorus Township.
- A trail cam captured a man with an AR-15 style rifle on the farm the night before the shooting, according to court documents obtained by WGAL.
- Police filed an affidavit of probable cause to get an arrest warrant for Matthew James Ruth, who the Associated Press has identified as the suspect in the shooting.
- The police attempted to serve the shooter with the order on Tuesday night, but they were not able to find him, according to officials.
- On Wednesday, law enforcement was returning to the site to do a follow-up visit when the shooter opened fire from a nearby cornfield, striking and killing three Northern York Regional officers, CNN says.
- The shooter then began moving toward the house where he engaged three York County sheriffs, CNN says.
- The shooter was wearing camouflage, according to law enforcement, and it is not yet clear to investigators whether the shooter was waiting in the cornfield for the ex-girlfriend or the arresting officer, CNN says.
- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the FBI and ATF responded to the scene, supporting local law enforcement.
- FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X, saying, "Our prayers are with the officers, their families, and the entire York County community."
- A witness told WGAL he saw people on the ground and heard 30 shots. He said an officer told him to leave the area and to keep moving.
- Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the shooting.
- Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis posted on X, asking people to pray for "the officers and those involved in the shooting in York County."
- Schools in the Spring Grove Area School District were ordered to shelter in place Wednesday afternoon. The order has since been lifted.
- Ted Czech, with the York County Office of Emergency Management, told WGAL that dispatchers received the first 911 call at 2:10 p.m. for a "police incident."
- Wednesday's events mark the second deadly police-involved shooting this year in York County. In February, Officer Andrew Duarte was killed in a standoff with a suspect who had taken hostages at UMPC Memorial Hospital in West Manchester Township.
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