Breaking: Police Officer Dead After UPMC Memorial Hospital Shooting in York, Pennsylvania
A tragic shooting happened at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. A police officer lost his life, and five others were hurt after a gunman took medical staff hostage and started shooting.
The chaos started when a gunman entered the ICU, taking staff members hostage before engaging in a deadly shootout with police.
West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte, who had served for six years, was killed in the violence. Multiple others were injured. The suspect, 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel Ortiz, was also shot and killed during the incident.
Authorities said Ortiz entered the hospital carrying a bag with a handgun and zip ties. He headed straight to the ICU.
UPMC confirmed on Facebook that there was a gunman and shots were fired. Ortiz held staff hostage and threatened to kill one of them if officers entered.
When Ortiz later stepped into the hallway with a hospital worker at gunpoint, officers opened fire and killed him. Two police officers were shot but are in stable condition. A doctor, a nurse, and a custodian were also shot, and another hospital worker was injured during the chaos.
Officials believe Ortiz targeted the ICU because he had contacted the department the previous week about a medical issue involving another person.
Officer Duarte, who was 29 years old, had served in law enforcement for six years. Before joining the West York Borough Police Department, he worked for five years in Denver, specializing in DUI and drug recognition enforcement.
Duarte was respected in his field. In 2021, he received the MADD Hero Award for his work against impaired driving. The West York Borough Police Department honored his sacrifice, inviting the community to lay flowers at the department in his memory.
“Our community grieves the loss of a hero,” the department wrote on Facebook. “We ask everyone to come together in respect and prayer during this difficult time.”
Governor Josh Shapiro also paid tribute, calling Duarte “the best of us” and recognizing his service. “This morning in York County, we saw the best and worst of humanity,” Shapiro wrote on X. “Tragically, we lost a hero today. Officer Duarte’s courage saved lives.”
The Fraternal Order of Police also shared their sadness. “Pennsylvania lost another hero today. Officer Duarte’s bravery and dedication to the law show the selflessness of those who protect and serve.”
Patients and visitors at UPMC Memorial Hospital described the terrifying moments before the shooting. Jayden Robertson and his grandmother were visiting a family member when an intercom announcement warned of an armed intruder.
At first, they thought it was a minor security issue, but the situation escalated quickly. Robertson saw police arriving, grabbing shields and weapons. “That’s when we realized how serious this was,” he said.
Betsy Small was visiting her mother when she heard strange noises and saw people running.
A voice over the intercom announced a lockdown, causing panic. “You never expect a shooting in a hospital,” Small said. She hid near a window as medical staff rushed through the halls.
For over an hour, Small watched nurses working frantically, some in tears. Her daughter texted her at 11:41 a.m., saying the shooter had been “taken out.”
“UPMC is grateful to all law enforcement officers and to our staff who bravely protected patients and visitors. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected,” the hospital wrote on Facebook.
State Senator Dawn Keefer and State Representative Seth Grove expressed their sorrow in a joint statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at UPMC today. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all affected by this senseless act of violence,” they said.
Despite the tragedy, authorities assured that no patients were harmed and the hospital is now secure. This comes after another tragic event—a fatal school shooting at Antioch High School on January 22, 2025.
Following the school shooting, Metro Nashville Police identified the 16-year-old girl who was killed as Josselin Corea Escalante.
She was shot alongside two other students. One male student was grazed in the arm, treated, and released from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Josselin’s father, German Corea, is devastated. “Every day I told her how much I loved her,” he said. She was an older sister but still his “little girl.” Corea said his daughter played soccer and got good grades. He never imagined she would never come home. “It’s not fair,” he mourned.
Josselin’s aunt, Maria Corea, is in shock. She said Josselin was sent to school to get an education and a better future, but her life ended too soon. “Oh God. She was my girl. She was very calm and well-behaved. She had good grades. She loved her family,” she shared.
Josselin’s family is asking the school to improve security. However, they don’t believe things will change, as every school shooting follows the same pattern. Antioch High School held a vigil for her on January 22.
The shooter, a 17-year-old student, took his own life after the attack. Police identified him as Solomon Henderson. The two school resource officers assigned to the school were in another part of the building when the shooting started.
As soon as they heard gunshots, they ran to the cafeteria, arriving just after Henderson shot himself. Investigators are now looking into his online activity and social media posts.
Authorities are working with local, state, and federal agencies to find out why Henderson opened fire. So far, they have found no link between him and the victims. “It may be that they were just hit by random gunfire in the cafeteria,” Metro Nashville Police said.
Chief John Drake of the Metro Nashville Police Department spoke out, saying, “On behalf of this entire police department, I extend our deep condolences to Antioch High students, parents, and staff. Our officers and counselors will support the healing process in the coming weeks.”
Dr. Adrienne Battle, Metro Nashville Public Schools’ director, also offered condolences to students, parents, and staff. She announced that the school would close for the rest of the week to allow time for grieving.
She released a statement thanking school staff for acting quickly and following emergency protocols, which likely prevented more harm. She also thanked the Metro Nashville Police Department and Fire Department for their fast response.
Battle promised to understand how and why the tragedy happened to prevent future incidents.
She added, “Our schools have always been places of learning, friendship, and growth. We must not let this tragedy overshadow the positive experiences of our 80,000 students.”
She also assured that students and staff would get the support they need to cope with the tragedy. She urged the Nashville community to come together to navigate the difficult days ahead.
