UPMC York shooting. Screenshot from CBS affiliate.
Feb. 22 (UPI) — A police officer and the gunman are dead, and five other people were injured after a shooting at a hospital in York, Pa., Saturday morning, officials confirmed in a statement.
Two other officers, a doctor, nurse and a custodian were hurt during the hostage situation at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in central Pennsylania, ABC News reported. Officers from the Northern York County Regional Police Department and the Springettsbury Township Police Department are in stable condition along with the hospital staff.
West York Borough police officer Andrew Duarte was killed in the shooting, the borough confirmed.
Around 10:30 a.m., Diogenes Archangel Ortiz entered the hospital in West Manchester Township with a handgun and zip ties, police said. He then went to the ICU and took several hospital staff hostage, officials said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
A woman being held hostage also had her hands tied with zip ties, York County District Attorney Tim Barker said at a news conference.
Ortiz was holding the hostages at gunpoint.
When Ortiz came into the hallway still holding the ICU employee at gunpoint, the officers opened fire and fatally shot Ortiz, Barker said.
He appeared to have contact with the ICU earlier this week for “a medical purpose involving another person.”
No patients were injured and the hospital was on divert, the hospital said.
“We are grateful to all the local law enforcement agencies for their quick response, the hospital said on Facebook.
The 101-bed medical facility was temporarily closed as of 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference: “Here in York County today we saw the very best and the very worst in humanity.”
Duarte joined the West York Borough Police Department in 2022 after five years with the Denver Police Department in Colorado, according to Duarte’s LinkedIn profile. While in Colorado, received a “hero award” in 2021 from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his work in impaired driving enforcement for the state of Colorado.
“He was someone who put on the uniform of service and went out to try and keep his neighbors safe,” Shapiro said at the news conference. “He is to be commended for a life of service, albeit cut way too short from a life of service to others. We’re deeply grateful to him.”
He also mentioned hospital staff.
“Every day when you put on your white coat or your uniform of service to others here in this wonderful hospital, or any hospital across Pennsylvania, you are performing that function because you care about your neighbors and you want to make sure that they are healthy and safe,” Shapiro said. “Something like this should never, ever happen in your place of work.”
UPMC Memorial opened in August 2019.