A devastating shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, claimed the life of a police officer and left five others injured after a gunman took medical staff hostage and opened fire.
The chaos began when 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel Ortiz entered the ICU with a handgun and zip ties, taking staff members hostage. West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte, a six-year law enforcement veteran, was fatally shot during the standoff. Ortiz was also killed when officers opened fire to end the crisis.
Authorities confirmed Ortiz had been in contact with the ICU in the previous week regarding a medical matter. During the standoff, he threatened to kill a hostage, preventing officers from breaching the unit. When he later emerged into the hallway with a hospital worker at gunpoint, police fired, ending the threat.
Among the wounded were two police officers, a doctor, a nurse, a custodian, and another hospital employee injured in the chaos. Fortunately, all are expected to recover.
Officer Duarte, 29, previously served with the Denver Police Department for five years before joining West York Borough PD. Highly respected in his field, he received the MADD Hero Award in 2021 for his work in DUI and drug enforcement. His department honored his sacrifice, urging the community to leave flowers at the station in his memory.
“Our community grieves the loss of a hero,” the department shared on Facebook. “We ask that the community come together in solidarity, respect, and prayer at this time as broken hearts mourn.”
Governor Josh Shapiro also paid tribute, calling Duarte “the best of us.” He wrote on X, “This morning in York County, we saw the best and worst of humanity. Officer Duarte’s willingness to run toward danger helped save lives.”
The Fraternal Order of Police echoed the sentiment: “Pennsylvania lost another hero today. Officer Duarte’s bravery and commitment to upholding the law are a testament to the selflessness shown daily by those who have dedicated themselves to protecting and serving.”
Patients and visitors described the terrifying moments before the shooting. Jayden Robertson and his grandmother were visiting a family member when an intercom announcement warned of an intruder. Initially thinking it was a minor security issue, they quickly realized the severity when police swarmed the hospital.
Elsewhere, Betsy Small was visiting her mother when she heard commotion and saw people running. A lockdown was announced, sending panic through the floor. “You never think it’s going to be a shooting, not in a hospital,” she said.
For over an hour, Small watched nurses rushing through the halls, some in tears. Her daughter texted her at 11:41 a.m. to say the shooter had been “taken out.”
Rest in Peace, Officer Andrew Duarte – West York Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania. End of Watch: February 22, 2025
Officer Andrew Duarte was killed on Saturday, February 22, after responding to an active shooter threat at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania.
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