Five police officers were shot and three of them were killed while serving a warrant at a York County farm at the afternoon, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
The two surviving officers are in critical but stable conditions at WellSpan York Hospital. The suspect is dead. State police said he was shot by law enforcement.
Officials have not released the names of anyone involved in Wednesday’s shooting. They did say officers were serving a warrant related to a domestic incident that happened
“This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day for York County and for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We grieve for the loss of life and three precious souls who served this county, served this Commonwealth and served this country. We continue to pray for the full recovery of those who are dealing with their wounds,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference
Shapiro pointed out the shooting comes on the heels of another shooting that took the life of a York County officer earlier this year, when Officer Andrew Duarte was killed in the line of duty.
PSP Col. Christopher Paris said they are dealing with a very large and active investigative scene.
“The Pennsylvania State Police has been asked to convene a major case team to conduct the lead in this investigation, with the assistance and in collaboration and in partnership with the York County District Attorney,” Paris said. “I just like to say, on a very personal note, our hearts and prayers go out to them, to the families of the deceased and the families of those officers who were wounded. There are simply no words that I can offer to assuage the grief, that this community has experienced and unfortunately, will continue to experience. The grief will be unbearable, but we will bear it.
Paris said state police are assisting Northern York County Regional Police with their calls to support them.
Three law enforcement officers were killed and two others were injured in a shooting on Wednesday in southern Pennsylvania, authorities said.
The incident occurred in an area of North Codorus Township, a rural community more than 100 miles west of Philadelphia, according to Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris. Officers had been at the scene to follow up on a domestic-related investigation.
The state police commissioner confirmed during a news conference that the shooter died after being shot by police. The crime scene remained active and large, but there was no threat to the community, according to Paris
Authorities did not identify the suspect, the officers involved in the shooting, or provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Paris said he could not share many details, citing the ongoing investigation.
During the news conference, Paris described the shooting as a “critical incident that has rocked the community here in York County.” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro went to the scene after the tragedy.
This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day,” Shapiro said at the news conference. “We grieve for the loss of life for the three precious souls who served this commonwealth, served this county, and this county.
The governor has ordered all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags on public buildings across the state to be lowered to half-staff in memory of the officers killed.
The two surviving officers were transported to WellSpan York Hospital and were currently in critical but stable condition, according to Paris. Dr. Daniel Carney, from WellSpan Health, said the hospital received two gunshot victims from the scene.
We immediately took them to the OR. They are both in critical but stable condition,” Carney said at the news conference.
Earlier on Wednesday, a spokesperson for WellSpan York Hospital told the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network, that it was treating two people in serious condition related to the police incident in North Codorus Township. Enhanced security protocols were also put in place at the facility.
York City Mayor Michael Helfrich and other local officials described a horrific scene. Helfrich said in a statement that Northern Regional Police Officers and York County Sheriff’s Office members were involved
The people of the City of York send our respect and condolences to the families of our fallen and wounded Northern Regional Police Officers and York County Sheriffs and to their agencies,” the mayor said. “York City Police have been assisting in the tragic situation and the City of York offers any assistance we can provide to our fellow agencies and the families.
In a statement on social media, the Gettysburg Police Department also said the incident in North Codorus Township involved members of the Northern York Regional Police Department and the York County Sheriff’s Office.
Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and extend our prayers for the swift recovery of those who were injured,” Gettysburg police said. “As a law enforcement family, we recognize the dangers that come with the job, and we are reminded once again of the bravery required to protect and serve our communities.”
North Codorus Township shooting prompts massive emergency response
A reporter with the York Daily Record said they witnessed an officer being loaded into a helicopter. York County radio dispatches indicated that officers had been injured in an incident in North Codorus Township.
York County Office of Emergency Management public information officer Ted Czech said emergency personnel were responding to the scene that was first reported to York County 911 at around 2:10 p.m. local time.
It remains an active scene, Czech said at the time. A landing zone was also set up for a helicopter.
York County Coroner Pam Gay had initially said her office was called to respond to the shooting, but provided no other information.
Shapiro asked that people keep in mind the families of the victims of the shooting and condemned the violent act. He also said he and other officials met with the families of the victims, who, while grieving, took the time to tell them how proud they were of their loved ones.
This kind of violence is not OK. We need to do better as a society,” the governor said. “We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon, is the answer to resolving disputes. We need do better when it comes to mental health.”
“We need to do better when it comes to looking out for those who are in need so we don’t have to deal with tragedies like this,” Shapiro continued.
Following reports of the shooting, Shapiro said in a statement on X that he was “briefed on the situation involving law enforcement in York County” and was on the way to the scene.
“We ask those in the area to please follow the directions of local law enforcement,” Shapiro said.
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