A shooting occurred at a hospital in York, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, where a man held medical staff hostage and opened fire, resulting in the death of a police officer and injuries to five others. Authorities identified the shooter as 49-year-old Diogenes Archiebald Ortiz, who was also fatally shot at the scene. York County District Attorney Tim Barker stated at an afternoon press conference that two other law enforcement officers were struck by the shooter but are currently in stable condition.
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02-23, 2025According to Barker, an intensive care unit (ICU) doctor, a nurse, and a maintenance worker sustained gunshot wounds, and a fourth employee was injured in a fall. The shooter arrived at the hospital carrying a bag containing a handgun and zip ties, proceeding directly to the ICU and taking staff members hostage. Barker stated that as police prepared to confront the shooter and enter the ICU, Ortiz pointed a gun at an ICU employee, ordering the police to back down.
“They did so to ensure that the hostage was not harmed and to attempt to negotiate with Mr. Ortiz,” Barker said. He also added that the female hostage's hands were also bound with zip ties. Barker confirmed that police shot and killed Ortiz as he walked out of the hallway still pointing the gun at the ICU employee.
Barker indicated that the incident appeared to be specifically targeted at the ICU. According to Barker, the shooter had contacted the ICU the previous week regarding the medical purpose of another individual. UPMC Memorial hospital spokeswoman Susan Manko told CNN that “No patients were injured, and the hospital is now secure.” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a press conference: “He put on that uniform, went out and worked hard to protect his neighbors and keep them safe. He is to be commended, and he lived a life of service to others, even though that life of service was cut far too short. We are deeply grateful to him.”
Police fraternal order state President Joseph Regan and York County Lodge 73 President Trent Bushman said in a statement that Pennsylvania lost a "hero." The statement read: "Officer Duarte’s bravery and commitment to upholding the law are a testament to the selfless spirit displayed every day by those who dedicate themselves to protecting and serving others."
Witnesses described the scene of the shooting. Jayden Robertson and his grandmother were visiting his aunt on the fourth floor of UPMC Memorial on Saturday morning. At that time, they heard a broadcast about an intruder with a weapon. Robertson told CNN that at first, they didn't pay much attention, thinking it might just be "a little kid who forgot he had a pocket knife or something." It wasn't until a friend texted him a news report stating that there was a shooting at the hospital that he and his family fully realized the seriousness of the situation. Robertson looked out the window and saw many police cars and officers running toward their vehicles, retrieving guns and shields.
In the same building, Betsy Smalls was visiting her mother at the hospital around 10:30 a.m. when she began hearing "strange noises, a lot of activity, and then the alarms went off." She said that when she looked out the window, people were running, and a woman announced a "lockdown" over the intercom system. "I thought, oh, what's going on here, but you never think it's going to be a shooting, especially at a hospital," Smalls, 58, told CNN. Smalls said she believed her room door was locked when the alarms went off. She crouched on the floor near the window for safety, while her mother slept soundly in her bed throughout the commotion.
She said that within minutes, three or four police cars arrived, and officers ran into the building with shields and guns. Over the next hour or so, Smalls saw nurses running back and forth on her floor through the door and windows of the room, shouting to each other. At 11:41 a.m., her daughter texted her that a shooter "had been shot." As of 3 p.m., Smalls had not yet been allowed to leave the building, and she said she saw some nurses crying to each other in the hallway. "I feel bad for everybody, I really do. It's a sad situation," Smalls said.
Shapiro said at the press conference that state and local leaders will work with affected healthcare workers to ensure they have the resources to recover. "I know that the trauma that the healthcare workers here had to deal with today is not going to disappear overnight," Shapiro said. "Every day, when you put on that white coat or the uniform that you wear to serve others and you come to this wonderful hospital or any hospital in Pennsylvania, you are performing that function because you care about your neighbor, and you want to make sure that they are healthy and safe. Something like this should never happen in your workplace."
Pennsylvania State Senator Dawn Keefer and State Representative Seth Grove said in a joint statement that they are praying for "those who were injured and the loved ones who are dealing with the unimaginable." "Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and all those impacted by this senseless act of violence," Keefer and Grove said, thanking first responders for "acting quickly to secure the scene, treat the injured, and ensure the safety of our community." The 104-bed UPMC Memorial Hospital opened in August 2019 and provides emergency medical care, heart and vascular services, chronic disease management, and surgical services. York is located in southern Pennsylvania.
