RED LION, Pa. — A ceremonial procession involving law enforcement officers is set to take place during the funeral on Friday for a Pennsylvania police officer. The officer lost his life in the line of duty while attempting to protect medical staff and patients during an assault at a hospital intensive care unit the previous weekend.
Family members, friends, and colleagues are expected to pay their respects to West York Patrolman Andrew Duarte at Living Word Community Church situated in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. The 30-year-old officer was tragically killed as he responded to a gunman who took hostages within UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. The assailant, identified as Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, aged 49, was also fatally shot during the incident, which resulted in injuries to several individuals.
The memorial service, scheduled for 1 p.m., is restricted from public attendance but will be available for viewing via a livestream provided by the church.
Accounts shared by nurses who lived through the harrowing attack have emerged on social media platforms, revealing details about the injuries sustained, the subsequent medical treatment, and the psychological impact of the terrifying event.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker announced that Archangel-Ortiz had seemingly been in contact recently with the intensive care unit for medical reasons related to another individual but did not provide further details.
Originally from Oakland, California, Duarte joined the West York police force in 2022, after completing a five-year tenure with the Denver Police Department in Colorado. According to an obituary, he held a degree in criminal justice and police science from California University of Pennsylvania and had a passion for photography, playing guitar, hiking, and traveling.
He is survived by his parents and his girlfriend, who, along with many others, mourn the loss of a dedicated officer and beloved individual.
