Gunman kills officer, wounds five in Pennsylvania Hospital attack

A gunman stormed a hospital in Pennsylvania on Saturday, taking hostages and opening fire, killing a police officer and wounding five others before being shot dead by authorities, officials said.

The suspect entered UPMC Memorial Hospital in York and headed directly to the intensive care unit, where he took medical staff hostage, York County District Attorney Tim Barker said in a press briefing. A nurse and a janitor were shot, while a doctor sustained minor injuries when a bullet narrowly missed him.

A gunfight broke out in a hallway as the suspect, using a restrained female hospital worker as a shield, exchanged fire with police, Barker added.

Officer Andrew Duarte was fatally shot in the confrontation, while two other officers sustained injuries but were reported in stable condition, along with the wounded hospital staff.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro visited the hospital after the incident, praising Duarte and his colleagues for their bravery. “Today, in York County, we witnessed both the best and the worst of humanity,” he told reporters.

The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Diojenis Archangel-Ortiz, had contacted the ICU earlier in the week regarding “another individual,” Barker said. Authorities have not yet determined a motive.