NORTH CODORUS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Authorities have identified the man who fatally shot three Pennsylvania police officers and wounded two others before being killed by police on Wednesday. The suspect was 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.
The deadly confrontation occurred in North Codorus Township, about 115 miles west of Philadelphia near the Maryland border. Officers were following up on a domestic-related investigation that began Tuesday when the situation turned violent. Gunfire erupted, leaving three officers dead and two more critically injured.
A Tragic Day for Law Enforcement
Officials said the injured officers were rushed to York Hospital, where they remain in critical but stable condition. Authorities have not yet released the names of the fallen or wounded officers, nor which departments they served, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.
The loss marks one of the deadliest days for Pennsylvania law enforcement in decades. In 2009, three Pittsburgh officers were ambushed and killed in a similar domestic-related call.
Governor Josh Shapiro called the incident a “tragic loss of life” and expressed condolences to the families and fellow officers. Attorney General Pamela Bondi described the killings as part of “a scourge on our society” targeting police.
Community Response
In the hours after the shooting, residents lined the streets holding American flags as police and emergency vehicles escorted the fallen officers to the coroner’s office. Outside the Northern York Regional Police Department headquarters, community members placed flowers and handwritten notes, honoring the officers’ sacrifice.
Local resident Dirk Anderson, who lives across the street from the scene, said he heard “quite a few” gunshots before helicopters and dozens of police vehicles swarmed the area. Roads were blocked off for hours as the investigation unfolded, with farmland and barns serving as the backdrop to the tragic standoff.
Investigation Continues
Authorities have not released details on how the shooting began or whether Ruth was known to law enforcement prior to the deadly encounter. Investigators continue to gather evidence and piece together the sequence of events leading to the deadly exchange.
“This is a devastating day for law enforcement and for our community,” a police spokesperson said. “Our priority remains supporting the families of the fallen and ensuring justice in the wake of this tragedy.”
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