3 officers killed, 2 wounded in shooting in York County, suspect identified

UPDATE, Sept. 18, 11:40 a.m.: The man who fatally shot three Pennsylvania officers and injured two before he was killed by police has been identified as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, according to a law enforcement official.

Three police officers were killed and two others were wounded Wednesday, Sept. 17 while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a man at a farm in North Codorus Township.

The names of the five officers and the suspect have not been released at this time.

The two wounded officers were listed in critical but stable condition at WellSpan York Hospital, Pennsylvania State Police Colonel Christopher L. Paris said during a news conference on Wednesday evening.

An officer shot and killed the suspect, Paris said.

The shooting happened after 2 p.m. Wednesday at a farm on Haar Road in North Codorus Township.

Governor Josh Shapiro spoke at the news conference about the shooting, “This kind of violence isn’t OK. We need to do better as a society. We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon is the answer to resolving disputes. We can do better when it comes to mental health. We need to do better when it comes to looking out for those who are in need so we don’t have to deal with tragedies like this.”

“… I just think as a community, it’s time for us to work hard to heal from this, and to make sure that those whose lives were lost today, that something constructive can come from that in their memory that stops this kind of violence in the future, that protects those people that put on those uniforms for us …” he said.

Here’s what we know so far:

Four law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in 2025

With the death of three police officers on Wednesday, a total of four law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in York County in 2025.

West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte was killed on Feb. 22, 2025 when he responded to a shooting with hostages at UPMC Memorial Hospital. He was mortally wounded by friendly fire.

Investigation continued overnight into the shooting of five officers

Law enforcement continued to investigate the fatal shooting into the night.

State, federal, and local investigators descended on a home in a quiet Hanover-area neighborhood on Wednesday night, images showed. In the images, provided to the York Daily Record/Evening Sun early Thursday morning, numerous agencies, including the FBI and Pennsylvania State Police, were investigating at a single-family home on Hall Drive in Penn Township.

Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release late Wednesday night that the investigation spans multiple locations throughout York County. Investigators were expected to work into the early morning hours on Thursday.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi tweeted on Wednesday that the FBI and the ATF were at the scene to help local law enforcement.

Officials are expected to give an update on the investigation on Thursday.

Officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant

Officers were at a farm on Haar Road in North Codorus Township for a domestic-related investigation, Paris said during the news conference.

CNN is reporting that the shooter was dressed in camouflage and lurking in a cornfield when he fired and killed three officers. He then moved towards the farmhouse and two other officers were injured.

A woman had reported to police the previous day that her ex-boyfriend was stalking the residence, and Northern York County Regional Police obtained an arrest warrant and restraining order, the news outlet reported.

Hanover man allegedly stalked a woman at the residence where shooting occurred

Police filed charges against a Hanover man after he allegedly stalked a resident at the farm where the five officers were shot on Wednesday. His home was searched by law enforcement after the shooting.

Matthew James Ruth, 24, of Hanover, was charged on Wednesday, Sept. 17 with misdemeanor stalking, misdemeanor prowling at nighttime, and summary criminal trespass in North Codorus Township.

The resident told police on Tuesday, Sept. 16 that a man, who was wearing camouflage, was on her property and looking into the home with binoculars, according to court records. Police responded to the home but could not find the him.

Photographs from a trail camera at the residence showed Ruth allegedly “had an AR-15 style rifle slung across the chest while looking into the residence,” according to court records.

State police were handling calls for Northern York County Regional Police

Pennsylvania State Police were responding to calls for service in Northern York County Regional Police Department’s coverage area Wednesday evening, Paris said during the news conference.

The department serves 12 municipalities: Conewago Township, Dover borough, Dover Township, Franklin Township, Heidelberg Township, Jackson Township, Manchester Township, Manheim Township, New Salem borough, North Codorus Township, North York borough, and Paradise Township.

Spring Grove church to host vigil for the fallen and wounded officers

A vigil is planned for Thursday, Sept. 18 at a church in Spring Grove for the three fallen officers and two wounded officers.

It will be held at 7 p.m. at Alliance Church, 213 N. Main St., in Spring Grove.

The Spring Grove Area Historical Preservation Society shared the information.

Gift card drive underway for the families of the victims

Hellam Township Police shared that gift cards for gas, groceries and restaurants for the victims families will be collected at its office.

The department will make sure they are delivered to Northern York County Regional Police.

Fundraiser planned to help families of fallen and wounded officers

A Dover-area business is hosting a fundraiser on Tuesday, Sept. 23 to help the families of the fallen and wounded officers.

Moonlight Cafe will be donating 20 percent of sales, including dine-in, takeout and drive-thru, directly to the families of the five officers who were shot in North Codorus Township, according to a Facebook post.

It also will be donating 20 percent of gift card purchases between Thursday, Sept. 18 and Thursday, Sept. 25, the post states.