NORTH CODORUS, Pa. (WHTM) — Three Northern York County Regional Police officers have been identified as the victims of what York County District Attorney Tim Barker called a "brutal ambush" on Wednesday.
The officers were identified as Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, Det. Mark Baker, and Det. Isaiah Emenheiser. A fourth Northern York County Regional police officer and a York County Deputy Sheriff were also shot and taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
Courtesy Northern York County Regional Police Department
The suspect, who was killed by police, has been identified as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, the ex-boyfriend of a woman at the property.
According to officials, police were called to the same area on Haar Road in North Codorus Township about 15 hours prior to the shooting for a report of a man she identified as Ruth looking into a home with binoculars and wearing camo.
Police searched for Ruth, but did not find him. Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Ruth on charges including stalking, loitering and prowling, and criminal trespass.
On Wednesday, the officers returned to the area to search for Ruth and interviewed his family. Police returned to the ex-girlfriend's property to continue the search and found that the front door was unlocked despite no one being home.
According to DA Barker, the officers opened the front door and were immediately met with gunfire from Ruth, who had an AR-15 style rifle equipped with a suppressor. All three officers died at the scene from their injuries.
The fourth Northern York officer and the deputy sheriff were toward the road and returned fire at Ruth. Both the officer and deputy sheriff were injured and continued to return fire.
One of the surviving officers is in critical but stable condition and the second surviving officer is now in satisfactory condition, according to WellSpan Health on Thursday afternoon.
DA Barker says Ruth then moved toward the road and continued a gunfight with law enforcement until he was fatally struck. Autopsies are pending, and details will be released at a later date.
DA Barker said it's believed Ruth also killed a dog at the property.
Calls for the Northern York County Regional Police Department, where a memorial is growing outside, were being handled by the Pennsylvania State Police in the hours after the shooting.
“This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day for York County and for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Governor Josh Shapiro said during a press conference at WellSpan York Hospital. “Grieve for the loss of life for three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth, and served this country, and we continue to pray for the full recovery of those who are dealing with their wounds."
The FBI and ATF have offered assistance in the investigation, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi contacted Governor Shapiro on Wednesday and called the violence “a scourge on our society.”
The governor has ordered flags in the Commonwealth to fly at half-staff, and vigils are being held across the region for the fallen officers.
Wednesday's shooting is the second time this year York County has experienced the loss of an officer. In February, West York Borough Office Andrew Duarte was fatally shot at UPMC Memorial Hospital after responding to a hostage situation in the ICU.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
