A man armed with a handgun and zip ties stormed UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. He killed a police officer and injured five others before officers shot him dead.
Gunman Enters ICU and Takes Hostages
Early in the morning, the attacker, 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, walked into the hospital. Without hesitation, he headed straight to the intensive care unit (ICU) and took staff members hostage. As tensions escalated, he shot a nurse and a custodian. Meanwhile, a doctor suffered a graze wound.
Police Respond, Shootout Ensues
As soon as police arrived, they confronted the gunman. According to York County District Attorney Tim Barker, the attacker stepped into the hallway, holding a female staff member at gunpoint with her hands tied. At that moment, he opened fire, forcing police to retaliate.
During the exchange, West York Police Officer Andrew Duarte lost his life. In addition, two other officers sustained injuries but are now in stable condition. Likewise, the injured nurse and custodian are recovering.
Governor Commends Officers’ Bravery
Later in the day, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro visited the hospital. While addressing the tragedy, he praised the officers’ heroism, stating, “Here in York County today, we saw the very best and the very worst of humanity.”
Investigation Underway to Determine Motive
Authorities revealed that Archangel-Ortiz had visited the ICU earlier in the week for a medical reason related to someone else. However, they have not yet determined his motive. For now, investigators are working diligently to uncover more details.
