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A police officer lost his life on Saturday after responding to a shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The incident, which saw a gunman take hostages and injure at least five others, ended when the suspect was shot dead, NBC reports.
Officer Andrew Duarte, aged 30, of the West York Borough Police Department, was killed at the scene. Authorities identified the shooter as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, though his motive remains unknown.
“I’m shattered. Devastated. He was the love of my life,” said Duarte’s girlfriend, Zanna Morris, at a vigil outside the West York Borough Police Department on Saturday night, NBC reported.
Holding back tears, she shared how Duarte died while protecting others. “I was told he saved lives today. Because of his actions, many lives were saved,” she said.
The emergency responders were called to the hospital at around 11 a.m. local time. Police radio messages later confirmed that at least two officers had been shot and that the shooter was down.
“The threat has now been neutralised, and an investigation is underway,” said Ted Czech, public information officer for York County’s Office of Emergency Management.
At a press conference, York County District Attorney Tim Barker stated that Archangel-Ortiz entered the hospital carrying a bag containing a handgun and zip ties. He then made his way to the Intensive Care Unit.
“Archangel-Ortiz held hostage members of the UPMC staff. In total, he discharged his firearm, injuring three staff members,” Barker explained to NBC. “A doctor was grazed, and a nurse and a custodian were also shot. Thankfully, all are now in stable condition.”
The hospital confirmed reports of an active shooter, stating that law enforcement swiftly intervened, securing the facility and apprehending the gunman.
“We have received confirmed reports of a gunman at UPMC Memorial, and shots fired,” the hospital said in a statement, ABC News reported. “The gunman has been apprehended, and no patients have been injured. The hospital is now secure.”
Duarte, a former Denver Police Department officer, had joined the West York Borough Police in 2022. His service and sacrifice were recognised by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who condemned the attack.
“This was the act of a coward,” Shapiro told NBC. “We pray for this community, especially for the Duarte family. His life was cut short, but it was a life of service, meaning, and purpose.”
As investigations continue, Duarte’s loved ones struggle to cope with the tragedy. “I’m proud, but I’m also angry that it had to be him,” Morris admitted to NBC.
NBC also highlighted that violent incidents at hospitals have been on the rise, with healthcare workers among the most at risk of non-fatal injuries, according to the CDC.
Outside the police department, candles, flowers, and handwritten notes were left in Duarte’s memory, a testament to the impact he had on his community.
(with inputs from agencies)
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