Local officials said on Saturday morning (February 22), a man kidnapped medical personnel and opened fire in a hospital in York City, Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of one police officer and five others injured.
Authorities identified the shooter as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel Ortiz, who was shot dead by the police.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker said at an afternoon press conference that two other law enforcement officers were shot but are in stable condition.
Barker mentioned that a critical care unit doctor, a nurse, and an administrator were injured by gunshots, and another employee was injured from falling. He said the shooter entered the hospital with a bag containing a gun and zip ties, went directly to the ICU, and took the staff hostage.
He added that when the police confronted the shooter and forcibly entered the ICU, Ortiz threatened an ICU employee with a gun and ordered the police to retreat.
“They did so to prevent harm to the hostages and attempted to communicate with Mr. Ortiz,” Barker said. According to him, the female hostage had her hands tied with zip ties.
Barker confirmed that as Ortiz walked down the hallway still pointing his gun at the ICU staff, the police shot and killed him.
He said the incident appeared to be specifically targeted at the ICU. Barker claimed that the shooter had been in contact with the ICU the previous week for medical activities related to another individual.
“No patients were harmed. The hospital is now safe,” Susan Manko, spokesperson for UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, told CNN.
The slain police officer was identified as Andrew Duarte.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a press conference, “He (the slain police officer) was someone who put on a uniform and went out to protect the safety of his neighbors. He dedicated his life to serving the people, and though his sacrifice made his service to the people short-lived, he deserves commendation. We are deeply grateful to him.”
Around 10:30 Saturday morning local time, Betsy Small was visiting her mother at the hospital when she heard “strange noises, a lot of commotion, and then alarms blaring.”
She said that as she looked out the window, she saw people running, and a woman announcing a “lockdown” message over the intercom.
58-year-old Small told CNN, “I thought, oh, something’s going on here, but you never expect it to be a shooting, at least not in a hospital.”
Small said that when the alarm went off, she believed the doors of the ward were locked. For safety, she crouched on the floor near the window, while her mother slept soundly in her hospital bed, as the chaos continued for a while.