Gunman takes hostages in ICU before deadly shootout with police
YORK, Pa, February 23: A gunman entered the intensive care unit of UPMC Memorial Hospital on Saturday, taking staff members hostage before being killed in a shootout with police that also claimed the life of an officer, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, was armed with a pistol and carrying zip ties when he entered the hospital. He took several staff members hostage, including a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian. During the incident, three hospital workers and two officers were shot and wounded, while a fourth staff member was injured in a fall, according to York County District Attorney Tim Barker.
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Gunfire erupted when officers confronted Archangel-Ortiz, who was holding a female staff member at gunpoint with her hands bound. Barker stated that the officers were justified in using deadly force, describing the event as “a huge loss to our community.”
Investigators believe Archangel-Ortiz intentionally targeted the ICU workers, possibly due to a prior visit earlier in the week related to a medical issue involving another individual, Associated Press reported.
The officer killed in the line of duty was identified as Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department. Duarte, a law enforcement veteran, joined the department in 2022 after serving with the Denver Police Department for five years. He was recognized for his work in impaired driving enforcement and was well-respected by his peers, according to agencies.
“We all have broken hearts and are grieving at his loss,” said West York Borough Manager Shawn Mauck. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro met with Duarte’s family and wounded officers, praising their bravery and calling the attack “the act of a coward.”
The incident has shaken the community of York, a city of about 40,000 people. At a makeshift memorial outside the West York Police Department, mourners gathered to pay their respects to Officer Duarte.
The shooting is part of a troubling trend of violence in U.S. hospitals and medical centers. Recent years have seen a rise in attacks on healthcare facilities, making the healthcare sector one of the most violent workplaces in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the motive behind the attack.
