NORTH CODORUS TOWNSHIP, Pa — Authorities have identified the suspect in Wednesday’s deadly York County police shooting as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, who was killed by law enforcement after opening fire on officers attempting to serve a warrant at a rural property.
The violent encounter described as one of the most devastating tragedies in the region’s law enforcement history left three officers dead and two others critically wounded.
At a Thursday press conference, York County District Attorney Tim Barker confirmed Ruth’s identity but said he would only refer to him as “the actor” moving forward, to keep focus on the fallen officers and their families.
The Northern York County Regional Police Department (NYCRPD) identified the officers killed as:
- Detective Sergeant Cody Becker
- Detective Isaiah Emenheiser
- Detective Mark Baker
A fourth NYCRPD officer was among the two critically wounded. The department released a statement urging the public to keep the officers and their families in their thoughts and prayers.
Detective Mark Baker, a former Philadelphia Police Highway Patrol officer, began his law enforcement career in 2001 with the Philadelphia Police Department before joining NYCRPD in 2004, where he served until his death.
Wave of misinformation
In the aftermath, law enforcement officials have battled a surge of false information online. Photographs of an unrelated man from Hanover, Pa. also named Matt Ruth were widely circulated, incorrectly identifying him as the shooter. Despite his public denials, the images spread rapidly, shared tens of thousands of times by major platforms, including Occupy Democrats and Economic Times.
Officials strongly urged the public to rely only on verified sources to prevent further harm.
Troubling behavior before shooting
Court documents revealed disturbing behavior by Ruth in the days leading up to the shooting. On Sept. 16, a woman reported a man in camouflage with binoculars on her property. Trail cameras captured images of Ruth near her home, carrying what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle.
The woman and her daughter also reported a prior incident on Aug. 20, when the daughter’s vehicle was set on fire in their driveway. The daughter later identified Ruth, with whom she had a brief relationship, as the man seen in the trail camera footage.
Based on this evidence, a warrant was issued for stalking, loitering, prowling at night, and criminal trespass.
The deadly confrontation
On Sept. 17, 2025, around 2:10 p.m., officers from multiple agencies arrived at a property on Haar Road in North Codorus Township to serve the warrant. Ruth immediately opened fire, striking at least five officers.
Three officers died at the scene. Two others were critically wounded and airlifted to regional trauma centers, including WellSpan York Hospital, which activated emergency security protocols.
Law enforcement returned fire, killing Ruth on the property.
The Pennsylvania State Police and the York County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate, reviewing Ruth’s actions in the weeks prior and the broader circumstances surrounding the attack.
The events have sent shockwaves through York County and the law enforcement community, leaving families and officers grieving an almost unprecedented loss.
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