Stalking suspect allegedly launched a surprise attack against Pennsylvania law enforcement officers, fatally wounding three.
In a tragic turn of events, a shootout in North Codorus, Pennsylvania, has claimed the lives of three police officers. The incident, one of the deadliest days for law enforcement in Pennsylvania this century, unfolded on a rural road, about 46 miles (75 km) north of Baltimore.
The shootout took place after six officers, including four plainclothes detectives from the Northern York County Regional Police Department, entered a house on Wednesday. As soon as they entered, suspect Matthew James Ruth, aged 24, opened fire, resulting in the death of Detective Sgt. Cody Becker, Detective Mark Baker, and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser.
Two other officers were seriously wounded in the shootout. One of the wounded officers is currently in critical but stable condition.
The shooting unfolded after a trail camera captured an image of Ruth, armed with an AR-style rifle, peering through a scope-like device into the house on Tuesday night. The ex-girlfriend and her mother had called the police and fled the house for their safety after officers dispatched Tuesday night were unable to find him there.
Community members gathered for a vigil at a church in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, to honour the slain officers. People left flowers outside the slain officers' headquarters and held American flags during a procession to the coroner's office. A woman sang 'Amazing Grace' during the vigil.
Neighbor Dirk Anderson heard 'quite a few' shots from his home across the street and witnessed a helicopter and police arriving at the scene. Approximately 30 police vehicles were present, blocking off roads bordered by a barn, a goat farm, soybean, and corn fields.
Gov. Josh Shapiro expressed the need for society to do better in addressing disputes and preventing the use of guns as a solution. He expressed his condolences to the families of the officers and the community.
The available information does not specify which police officers were known before the incident, nor their specific duties at that time. Using a drone, six officers scoured the property, including farm buildings, before they noticed the door to the home was unlocked.
The community showed their support during the vigil, with community members writing messages on stones and arranging them under a table displaying five lit candles. The vigil was a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the impact they had on the community.
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