The Denver Police Department released this photo of Andrew Duarte, though the exact date it was taken is unknown. AP Photo
A man carrying a gun and zip ties stormed into the intensive care unit of a Pennsylvania hospital on Saturday, taking staff members hostage. Police responded, leading to a shootout that left both the suspect and a police officer dead. Several others, including hospital staff and officers, were injured.
The gunman, identified as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, entered UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County around 10:35 a.m. He went straight to the ICU, where he held a female hospital worker at gunpoint. Her hands were tied with zip ties. Police attempted to stop him, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
During the confrontation, three hospital staff members—a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian—were shot and wounded. Two other officers were also hit. Another hospital worker was injured after falling. The injuries were not life-threatening, and all were reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities believe Archangel-Ortiz had been at the hospital earlier in the week due to a medical issue involving someone he knew. District Attorney Tim Barker stated that the suspect seemed to have specifically targeted hospital workers. However, the exact motive remains unknown.
Police officer Andrew Duarte, from the West York Borough Police Department, was among those shot during the standoff. His injuries were fatal. Duarte had served as a police officer in Denver before joining the West York Borough force in 2022. He was well-respected in law enforcement and had received an award for his efforts in preventing impaired driving.
West York Borough Manager Shawn Mauck expressed deep sorrow over Duarte’s death. “We all have broken hearts and are grieving at his loss,” he said.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro met with Duarte’s family and injured officers later that evening. He praised their bravery, saying, “Their willingness to run toward danger helped save the lives of others.”
At a memorial set up outside the police department, mourners placed flowers and candles. Linda Shields, a mother of a police officer in Maryland, left roses and wiped away tears. “He was so young,” she said of Duarte. “It makes no sense at all.”
UPMC Memorial Hospital, a five-story, 104-bed facility, has been a vital healthcare center since it opened in 2019. The tragic incident highlights the growing threat of violence against medical workers. Hospitals across the country have experienced similar attacks in recent years.
In 2023, a gunman killed a security guard at a New Hampshire psychiatric hospital. In 2022, a man in Dallas fatally shot two hospital workers while visiting for his child’s birth. Another incident in Atlanta left one dead and four wounded in a medical center waiting room. In Tulsa, a patient killed his surgeon and three others, blaming the doctor for his ongoing pain.
These attacks have made healthcare one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S. According to the CDC, medical workers face more workplace violence than any other industry.
Shapiro condemned the attack, calling it “the act of a coward.” Officials continue to investigate the shooting as the community mourns the loss of a dedicated officer.
