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Deadly shooting at UPMC Memorial: Everything we know and don't know

Deadly shooting at UPMC Memorial: Everything we know and don't know
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      SHAPIRO. THE BODY OF FALLEN WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE OFFICER ANDREW ANDREW DUARTE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL FOR AN AUTOPSY. DUARTE WAS KILLED OVER THE WEEKEND WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE YORK COUNTY D.A., THE ARCHANGEL ORTIZ ENTERED UPMC MEMORIAL AROUND 1030 SATURDAY MORNING CARRYING A HANDGUN AND ZIP TIES. HE THEN HELD MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS HOSTAGE, EVENTUALLY SHOOTING THREE PEOPLE. POLICE SAY THEY NEGOTIATED WITH HIM, TRYING TO GET HIM TO DROP THE GUN. THE ENCOUNTER ENDED WHEN ARCHANGEL ORTIZ WAS SHOT AND KILLED. OFFICER ANDREW DUARTE WAS SHOT AND KILLED, AND TWO OTHER POLICE OFFICERS WERE WOUNDED. THERE WAS A LARGE TURNOUT THIS MORNING IN THE SUSQUEHANNA, AS OFFICER DUARTE’S BODY WAS ESCORTED TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY. NEWS EIGHT’S JAKE REYES WAS THERE AND HAS MORE. THE PROCESSION STARTED AT THE YORK COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE AND WAS ATTENDED BY OFFICERS FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS. THE FIRST POLICE OFFICERS ARRIVED ON MOTORCYCLES AT THE CORONER’S OFFICE AT AROUND 630 IN THE MORNING. THE MEN ARE WITH THE UPLAND BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL THE WAY IN DELAWARE COUNTY. THEY WERE JUST TWO OF THE DOZENS OF FIRST RESPONDERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE WHO CAME TO SHOW THEIR RESPECT FOR ANDREW DUARTE. WINDING UP AT 7:17 A.M., THE PROCESSION LEFT THE CORONER’S OFFICE ALONG WITH THE BODY OF OFFICER DUARTE. ON THE WAY TO LEHIGH VALLEY FOR AN AUTOPSY, OTHER FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS VEHICLES JOINED ALONG THE WAY ON ROUTE 30 FOR THIS 80 MILE TRIP. OFFICER DUARTE HAS BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS AND SPENT HIS FIRST FIVE IN DENVER, COLORADO, BEFORE JOINING THE WEST YORK BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2021. DUARTE RECEIVED THE MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING HERO AWARD FOR HIS WORK IN IMPAIRED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT. OFFICER ANDREW DUARTE TURNED 30 JUST A WEEK AGO BEFORE HE WAS KILL
      WGAL logo
      Updated: 7:39 PM EST Feb 25, 2025
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      Deadly shooting at UPMC Memorial: Everything we know and don't know
      WGAL logo
      Updated: 7:39 PM EST Feb 25, 2025
      Editorial Standards
      An officer was killed and multiple people were injured in a shooting reported at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County, Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon.Timeline of eventsIn a press briefing at the hospital, District Attorney Timothy Barker said the shooter, identified as Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, entered the hospital carrying a bag containing a handgun and zip ties around 10:35 a.m.Archangel-Ortiz went to the ICU and held hostage multiple members of the UPMC staff, where he discharged his weapon, shooting three staff members. A nurse and a custodian who were shot are in stable condition. Another doctor was grazed by a bullet and didn’t need medical attention. A fourth staff member sustained injuries from a fall during the incident.A UPMC officer responded to the incident immediately and Archangel-Ortiz shot at them. Law enforcement made a formation to engage with Archangel-Ortiz and found he was holding a staff member at gunpoint.Archangel-Ortiz ordered the police to get back, and they did so to keep the hostage safe.Officers attempted to talk to and disengage Archangel-Ortiz while they created a new formation.Archangel-Ortiz then came forward while holding the hostage at gunpoint and police fired at and killed the gunman.The incident came to an end at approximately 11:13 a.m., according to Barker. Three officers were struck in the exchange. A Springettsberry Township officer and a North York County Regional officer were injured but have since been released from a hospital. West York Borough police officer Andrew Duarte was transported to WellspanYork Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 12:19 p.m.Full press briefing below:Search for motiveBarker stated Saturday that Archangel-Ortiz had contact with the ICU earlier in the week for a "medical purpose involving another individual."Lester Mendoza, a physician assistant at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, shared on social media that he spoke to Archangel-Ortiz earlier in the week, informing him that a loved one had died."I spoke with the very man who did this act, interacting with him multiple days. I was there when we delivered the worst news imaginable to him — that his loved one was gone. I saw his devastation firsthand. In that moment, I truly did not see a monster. He was simply broken," the statement reads, in part. The full statement can be read here.Officials have not released any official motive for the deadly shooting. Video below: Officers respond to shootingHonoring Andrew DuarteAndrew Duarte spent more than six years as a police officer and just recently celebrated his 30th birthday before his life was taken in the UPMC Memorial Hospital shooting.A procession left the York County Coroner's Office Monday morning to transport Duarte's body to Lehigh Valley for an autopsy. Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered the United States and Commonwealth flags to fly at half-staff in honor of fallen police officer Andrew Duarte.The officer was also honored in two events on Saturday night.Community members came together at the West York Administration Office on West Poplar Street to lay flowers and light candles to show support and respect for Andrew Duarte.A procession also took place where dozens of first responders lined up along George Street at the entrance to York Hospital and emergency vehicles drove by and flashed their lights.Duarte's mother called him "an amazing young man." "He had a warrior heart and a warrior spirit. He was incredibly intelligent, loving, sweet and kind. We were very close," Nancy Duarte Matarese said.Nancy said she was not surprised to hear her son rushed into the hospital to help on Saturday during the shooting, saying that was the kind of person that he was.Related: Mom of officer killed in Pennsylvania hospital shooting shares heartbreakRelated: How to help family of fallen West York officer Andrew DuarteHospital securityWellSpan Health is said they are enhancing security measures at York Hospital during and after the incident out of an abundance of caution.This includes restricting movement in and out of facilities during emergency situations in cooperation with law enforcement. WellSpan also said they have utilized metal detectors and have had an armed officer at their Emergency Department entrance for the last two years.They have also implemented Strongline, "a real-time incident notification system and badge for WellSpan team members to press when in a threatening situation." This program has been implemented across 187 WellSpan locations.

      An officer was killed and multiple people were injured in a shooting reported at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County, Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon.

      Timeline of events

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      In a press briefing at the hospital, District Attorney Timothy Barker said the shooter, identified as Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, entered the hospital carrying a bag containing a handgun and zip ties around 10:35 a.m.

      Archangel-Ortiz went to the ICU and held hostage multiple members of the UPMC staff, where he discharged his weapon, shooting three staff members.

      A nurse and a custodian who were shot are in stable condition. Another doctor was grazed by a bullet and didn’t need medical attention. A fourth staff member sustained injuries from a fall during the incident.

      A UPMC officer responded to the incident immediately and Archangel-Ortiz shot at them. Law enforcement made a formation to engage with Archangel-Ortiz and found he was holding a staff member at gunpoint.

      Archangel-Ortiz ordered the police to get back, and they did so to keep the hostage safe.

      Officers attempted to talk to and disengage Archangel-Ortiz while they created a new formation.

      Archangel-Ortiz then came forward while holding the hostage at gunpoint and police fired at and killed the gunman.

      The incident came to an end at approximately 11:13 a.m., according to Barker.

      Three officers were struck in the exchange. A Springettsberry Township officer and a North York County Regional officer were injured but have since been released from a hospital. West York Borough police officer Andrew Duarte was transported to WellspanYork Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 12:19 p.m.

      Full press briefing below:

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          Search for motive

          Barker stated Saturday that Archangel-Ortiz had contact with the ICU earlier in the week for a "medical purpose involving another individual."

          Lester Mendoza, a physician assistant at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, shared on social media that he spoke to Archangel-Ortiz earlier in the week, informing him that a loved one had died.

          "I spoke with the very man who did this act, interacting with him multiple days. I was there when we delivered the worst news imaginable to him — that his loved one was gone. I saw his devastation firsthand. In that moment, I truly did not see a monster. He was simply broken," the statement reads, in part.

          The full statement can be read here.

          Officials have not released any official motive for the deadly shooting.

          Video below: Officers respond to shooting

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              Honoring Andrew Duarte

              Andrew Duarte spent more than six years as a police officer and just recently celebrated his 30th birthday before his life was taken in the UPMC Memorial Hospital shooting.

              A procession left the York County Coroner's Office Monday morning to transport Duarte's body to Lehigh Valley for an autopsy.

              Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered the United States and Commonwealth flags to fly at half-staff in honor of fallen police officer Andrew Duarte.

              The officer was also honored in two events on Saturday night.

              Community members came together at the West York Administration Office on West Poplar Street to lay flowers and light candles to show support and respect for Andrew Duarte.

              A procession also took place where dozens of first responders lined up along George Street at the entrance to York Hospital and emergency vehicles drove by and flashed their lights.

              Duarte's mother called him "an amazing young man."

              "He had a warrior heart and a warrior spirit. He was incredibly intelligent, loving, sweet and kind. We were very close," Nancy Duarte Matarese said.

              Nancy said she was not surprised to hear her son rushed into the hospital to help on Saturday during the shooting, saying that was the kind of person that he was.

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                  Related: Mom of officer killed in Pennsylvania hospital shooting shares heartbreak

                  Related: How to help family of fallen West York officer Andrew Duarte

                  Hospital security

                  WellSpan Health is said they are enhancing security measures at York Hospital during and after the incident out of an abundance of caution.

                  This includes restricting movement in and out of facilities during emergency situations in cooperation with law enforcement. WellSpan also said they have utilized metal detectors and have had an armed officer at their Emergency Department entrance for the last two years.

                  They have also implemented Strongline, "a real-time incident notification system and badge for WellSpan team members to press when in a threatening situation." This program has been implemented across 187 WellSpan locations.