Newsman: A Mass shooting in a hospital in southern Pennsylvania left six people injured and two dead, including the suspected gunman. A police officer was also killed in the late Saturday morning attack in which authorities said the lone suspect entered a hospital’s intensive care unit carrying a bag with a handgun and zip ties.
At about 10:35 a.m., authorities say the suspect walked into the hospital and took the staff of the ICU hostage, firing several shots and binding the hands of a nurse with zip ties.
Bullets struck a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian, Barker said. A fourth member of the staff was injured in a fall trying to escape the gunfire, he said.
The mass shooting took place at UMPC Memorial in York, a city about 25 miles southeast of the state capital, Harrisburg. Officials on Monday continued to investigate the motive in a weekend hospital
York County District Attorney Tim Barker said the suspect held hospital workers hostage, opened fire and shot people including a doctor, a nurse and a custodian and three police officers. A hospital staff member was also injured.
According to the hospitals website, the five-level facility has 104 beds with all private patient rooms and opened in 2019.
Barker said police were called. They then confronted the suspect and tried to defuse the situation.
But at some point, the suspect left the ICU, then entered a hallway holding a gun and the staff member, officials reported. Barker said officers then had no choice and opened fire, killing the armed suspect. Three officers were hit by gunfire, one fatally struck, Barker said.
On Sunday the other two were in stable condition, officials said.
Barker said an investigation would determine whether Duarte was shot by Archangel-Ortiz or “friendly fire” from the other officers. Barker identified the slain officer as Andrew Duarte. He was 30.
The officer had worked for the West York Borough Police Department since June 2022 and was a former officer with the Denver Police Department, where he served for five years.
“Our West York Borough family is suffering a painful loss today in response to a tragic mutual aid call earlier today in West Manchester Township at UPMC,” the local police department wrote on social media. “Our hearts break at the innocent loss of life.”
“Officer Duarte was one of the best of us,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said. “He is to be commended for a life of service, albeit one cut too short.”
Police identified the gunman as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz.
According to court records, Archangel-Ortiz did not have a significant criminal record. He had been charged with driving on a suspended license earlier this month, and with harassment and contempt for a court order in October 2016, records show.
A motive in the attack remained under investigation on Monday morning. But officials said the gunman had visited a friend in the hospital days before the shooting and “had contact” with hospital staff. Speaking at a briefing late Saturday, Barker provided no details about the hospital visit.
