A hostage crisis at the UPMC Memorial Hospital ICU on Saturday morning left a West York Borough Police officer and the gunman dead, while five others were left injured.
Officer Andrew Duarte was killed as a host of York County police officers responded to the hospital and confronted and killed the gunman, Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, who entered the hospital around 10:30 a.m. armed with a handgun and zip ties.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker said Archangel-Ortiz went directly to the hospital ICU and held members of the hospital staff hostage.
“He discharged his firearm and struck three members of the UPMC staff,” Barker said.
A nurse and a custodian at the ICU were wounded but are listed in stable condition, Barker said, while a doctor sustained a grazed wound. The D.A. did not disclose their names.
Barker said it appears that Archangel-Ortiz targeted the ICU area. He apparently had contacted staff earlier in the week for a medical purpose involving another person, but Barker didn’t release any information as to how the person in the ICU was related to the suspect.
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“UPMC officers responded right away to alleviate the harm that occurred,” Barker said. “This individual did discharge his firearm at UPMC officers. He did hold individuals hostage and that led to contacting the authorities and multiple law enforcement agencies.”
The officers that responded confronted Archangel-Ortiz as he held one of the UPMC staff members at gunpoint and ordered officers to get back, Barker said, which they did so that he would not harm the hostage. The staff member had her hands tied with the zip ties that Archangel-Ortiz had brought with him, Barker said.
“Holding her at gunpoint coming out into the hallway, the officer left with no recourse, did open fire and did kill (the suspect),” Barker said.
During the exchange with the suspect that Duarte was killed, Barker said. An officer from Northern York County Regional Police and an officer from Springettsbury Township Police were wounded during the exchange as well but are in stable condition.
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Court records show that Archangel-Ortiz faced a harassment charge in 2016. On Feb. 13, two weeks before Saturday’s shooting, he was charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license. Otherwise, he had not faced any allegations of violence in Pennsylvania.
In reviewing video and statements that were taken from officers and UPMC staff at the scene, Barker said, police were justified in using deadly force against Archangel-Ortiz.
“Quite frankly, they need to use deadly force,” Barker said, “because by doing so they potentially saved even more lives even as they lost one of their own.”
In a statement earlier in the day, a UPMC spokesperson said no patients were injured during the incident.
Governor Josh Shapiro came to the scene to offer condolences and support for the officers involved after they lost one of their own.
“Officer Duarte was the best of us,” Shapiro said. “He is someone who put on the uniform of service and went out to keep people safe. He is to be commended for a life cut way too short in a life of service to others. We are deeply grateful to him.”
Shapiro praised the courage of the healthcare workers who were in the middle of the incident and the officers that responded to the scene.
“Because of their work, lives were saved today,” Shapiro said. “I know that because they answered the call and ran toward danger, lives were saved.”
Shapiro said President Donald Trump called him and offered any support that he could offer.
He also acknowledged the trauma UPMC staff members endured during the incident.
“Every day when you put on your white coat of service to others here in this wonderful hospital, you are performing that function because you care about your neighbors and you want to make sure they are healthy and safe,” Shapiro said. “Something like this should never ever happen in your place of work.”
He said the UPMC system will offer whatever resources that are needed to help them heal.
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Elizabeth Ritter, president of UPMC Harrisburg, West Shore, and Community Osteopathic, also offered her support for the staff who were injured and her gratitude to the officers who responded to the scene.
“We’re grateful today to all law enforcement officers who responded so bravely,” Ritter said, “as well as our outstanding leaders and staff who immediately responded and continued to work together to support our employees, our patients and their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were exposed to this terrible event and we are so grateful for the outpouring of support from so many of our colleagues here.”
West York Borough officials reported earlier in the day via social media that one of their officers was killed in the line of duty.
“Our West York Borough family is suffering a painful loss today in response to a tragic mutual aid call earlier today in West Manchester Township at UPMC. Our hearts break at the innocent loss of life,” the statement said. “Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to West York Borough Police Officer, Andrew Duarte’s family and all of our brothers and sisters in the West York Borough Police Department that have lost a comrade and friend, and furthermore our fellow Borough agencies that have lost a colleague. Our community grieves the loss of a hero.”
Members were encouraged to lay flowers at police headquarters at 1381 West Poplar Street to honor Duarte’s passing.
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