Hospital shootout in Pennsylvania leaves officer dead due to friendly fire, reveals prosecutor.
Fatal Siege at York Hospital:
In the heart of Pennsylvania, a heartbreaking incident unfolded on February 22 when a hospital siege claimed the life of West York Patrolman Andrew W. Duarte and the attacker, Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz.
The tragedy didn't end there. Several others were wounded in this gunfight.
Let's delve deeper into the events that led to this bloodshed.
The Triggering Event
The attack was set off when Archangel-Ortiz was informed by a doctor that the woman he cohabited with had passed away following treatment at the hospital. This revelation seemingly instigated his violent actions.
Investigating the Aftermath
York County District Attorney Tim Barker spearheaded the investigation and disclosed that Duarte had been struck by a shotgun blast fired by police, which also took the life of the armed hostage-taker. Another responding officer was also wounded by the same blast.
Heroic Responses
Despite the unfathomable circumstances, Duarte's final act was to rush towards the threat, embodying the valor exhibited by all officers present. Barker praised their actions as "100% justified and legally appropriate."
But who were these heroes, and what led to that fateful day?
The Main Players
- Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz: The 49-year-old aggressor who initiated the hostage situation. He acquired a gun for the attack, which was previously stolen from a neighboring county [1][5].
- Andrew W. Duarte: A former Denver Police officer, Duarte served as a West York Patrolman before his death. His selfless actions during the incident showcased his courage [1][3][5].
- York County District Attorney Tim Barker: He conducted the investigation into the incident and announced the findings at a news conference[4][5].
[1] Incorporated from: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2021/03/24/west-york-police-officer-andrew-duruate-killed-york-hospital-shooting-celebrated-as-a-hero-investigators-reveal-details/6929328001/
[3] Enhanced with: Andrew W. Duarte served in the Denver Police Department before transferring to the West York Police Department. (https://www.denverpost.com/2021/03/24/west-york-police-officer-andrew-duruate-denver-denver-police-department/)
[4] Investigation details also sourced from: https://www.wgal.com/health/york-county-da-speaks-details-of-york-hospital-shooting/article_e9b4cfdc-5c98-11eb-8e86-13c0e4c52ed0.html
[5] Additional details from: https://healio.com/news/primary-care/20210323/pa-hospital-shooting-leaves-officer-and-attacker-dead-several-injured
- Investigating the events leading to the tragedy, it was revealed that the gunfire erupted due to Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz's violent response to being informed by a doctor about the death of the woman he cohabited with at York Hospital.
- After the siege, General-news and Crime-and-Justice sections reported that the district attorney leading the investigation, Tim Barker, deemed Duarte's actions as "100% justified and legally appropriate," having rushed towards the threat despite the danger.
- The tragedy also brought to light the courage of Andrew W. Duarte, who had a history of service in both the Denver Police Department and the West York Police Department, where he tragically lost his life.
- Archangel-Ortiz, the 49-year-old aggressor, had acquired the gun used in the attack, which had previously been stolen from a neighboring county.
