Police Officer Killed in UPMC Memorial Hospital Shooting in York, Pennsylvania – Latest Updates
Police Officer Dead After UPMC Memorial Hospital Shooting in York, Pennsylvania– Details
A horrific incident occurred at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, where a shooter took medical workers hostage and opened fire, killing one police officer and injuring five others. For further information, keep reading.
A shooter attacked the intensive care unit (ICU) at UPMC Memorial Hospital, taking staff members hostage before starting a deadly gunfight with authorities.
West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte, a six-year member of the department, was killed in the incident, and several others were injured. The altercation also claimed the life of the suspect, Diogenes Archangel Ortiz, 49.
According to authorities, Ortiz went straight to the intensive care unit after entering the hospital with a bag that included a firearm and zip ties.
UPMC confirmed on Facebook that there was a shooter present and that shots were being fired. By threatening to kill one of the hostages, he kept cops from breaking into the unit while holding staff hostage.
Officers opened fire on Ortiz when he subsequently came out into the corridor with a hospital employee still at gunpoint. The conditions of two other law enforcement personnel who were shot are stable. A fourth hospital worker was hurt in the confusion, and three other staff members—a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian—were also shot.
Given that Ortiz had communicated with the ICU within the past week about a medical issue involving another person, officials think the attack was directed exclusively at the unit.
Officer Duarte had six years of law enforcement experience and was reportedly 29 years old when he passed away. He worked for the Denver Police Department for five years, specializing in narcotics recognition and DUI enforcement, before joining the West York Borough Police Department.
Duarte was well-known in his area and was recognized for his efforts in enforcing the law against drunk driving in 2021 with the MADD Hero Award. In remembrance of his sacrifice, the West York Borough Police Department invited the public to place flowers on the department’s steps.
The department posted, “Our community grieves the loss of a hero,” on Facebook. “We ask that the community come together in solidarity, respect, and prayer at this time as broken hearts mourn.”
In addition, Governor Josh Shapiro honored Duarte by referring to him as “the best of us” and acknowledging his lifetime of service. Shapiro posted on X, “We witnessed the best and worst of humanity this morning in York County.” Sadly, one of those heroes passed away today. Officer Duarte saved lives by being willing to dash toward danger.
These feelings were echoed by the Fraternal Order of Police, who said, “Today, Pennsylvania lost another hero. The selflessness displayed every day by those who have committed themselves to serving and protecting is demonstrated by Officer Duarte’s courage and dedication to following the law.
UPMC Memorial Hospital patients and guests recounted the horrifying events that preceded the massacre. An message regarding an armed intruder was broadcast over the intercom as Jayden Robertson and his grandmother were on a visit to a relative.
They thought it was a small security problem at first, but things soon got out of hand. Robertson remembered seeing police cars pull up outside the window, cops scrambling to get guns and shields. “That’s when we realized how serious this was,” he stated.
Betsy Small was visiting her mother in another part of the hospital when she noticed people rushing and heard odd noises.
Panic swept over the floor as a lady proclaimed a lockdown over the intercom. “You never think it’s going to be a shooting, not in a hospital,” Small stated. As medical personnel hurried through the corridors, she sought refuge close to a window.
Small saw the frantic, sometimes tearful, movements of the nurses for over an hour. At 11:41 a.m., her daughter texted her to let her know that the gunman had been “taken out.”
“UPMC is appreciative of all the law enforcement personnel and our employees who bravely protected both their personal safety and the protection of our patients and guests. Everyone affected by this horrible incident is in our prayers and thoughts,” the hospital posted, in part, on Facebook.
In a joint statement, State Representative Seth Grove and State Senator Dawn Keefer recognized the incident and expressed their sadness over what happened at UPMC Memorial Hospital.
“The terrible incident at UPMC this morning has left us extremely heartbroken. They said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this senseless act of violence.”
Authorities promised that the hospital is now secure and that no patients were hurt despite the disaster. The deadly school shooting at Antioch High School on January 22, 2025, was followed by this terrifying incident.
The 16-year-old girl who was slain in the school shooting was identified by the Metro Nashville Police Department after it happened. Josselin Corea Escalante was the victim who was fatally injured at Antioch High School’s cafeteria.
She and two other pupils were shot. One of the two is a male student who was treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after suffering a graze to his arm.
German Corea, Escalante’s father, is devastated by his daughter’s passing. “Every day I told her how much I loved her,” he stated. Despite being an elder sister, Escalante was still considered a daddy’s girl by his father. According to Corea, his daughter excelled academically and played soccer.
He said he never imagined his sweet and lovely daughter would never return home. The words “It’s not fair,” he lamented.
Escalante’s aunt, Maria Corea, is devastated by her death and remarks that she was sent to school in order to receive an education and a brighter future, but her life ended tragically. “My God. My girl was her. She was a really well-behaved and serene girl.
She did well academically. She revealed that she was a young girl who cherished her parents and her entire family.
Escalante’s family has asked the school to make security improvements. Given that every school massacre has a similar backstory, they are not optimistic that anything will change. On the evening of January 22, Antioch High School held a vigil in Escalante’s honor.
The shooter, who was 17 years old, was enrolled in Antioch High School. He killed himself by shooting himself in the head. He has been identified by the police as Solomon Henderson. When Henderson began shooting, the two school resource officers assigned to Antioch High School were in a separate area of the structure.
They hurried to the cafeteria as soon as they heard the shots, arriving shortly after Henderson had committed suicide. Authorities are currently looking into social media posts and web articles connected to Henderson.
In order to ascertain the reason behind the shooting in the school cafeteria, they are also collaborating with state, municipal, and federal officials. Police are still investigating the incident, but they have not yet discovered any link between the unfortunate occurrence’s victims and the gunman.
“It’s possible that his sporadic gunfire in the cafeteria hit them,” the Metro Nashville Police Department stated.
“On behalf of this entire police department, I extend our deep condolences to Antioch High students, parents, and staff,” said Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake. In the coming days and weeks, our officers and counselors will endeavor to contribute to the healing process.
The entire Antioch High School community, along with the students and parents, have expressed their condolences to Dr. Adrienne Battle, the director of Metro Nashville Public Schools. In order to give staff and students time to grieve, Battle said that the school would be closed for the remainder of the week.
She said in a statement, “I want to thank the school staff who quickly and heroically followed emergency protocols, potentially preventing further harm, as well as the Metro Nashville Police Department and Nashville Fire Department for their swift and urgent response.”
Battle pledged that she was dedicated to learning the how and why of this tragedy in order to stop it from happening again.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that our schools have long been secure spaces for education, camaraderie, and development,” she continued. The good experiences of our 80,000 students must be overshadowed by this tragedy.”
Battle said that the staff and students will receive all the assistance they require to cope with this tragedy, including bereavement support. In order to face the days and weeks ahead together, she called on the Nashville community, faculty, staff, and counselors to unite.
