YORK, Pa. – A tragic incident unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, on February 22nd when two lives were taken, and several were injured during a chaotic hostage situation. Officer Andrew W. Duarte of West York lost his life not from the assailant’s weapon, but from friendly fire amidst efforts to neutralize the perpetrator, Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, aged 49, who was also killed in the shootout.
Authorities revealed these findings during a press briefing led by York County District Attorney Tim Barker this Wednesday. The heartbreaking revelation of Duarte’s death was a direct consequence of an exchange involving police forces confronting the attacker. Despite this, Barker squarely attributed the tragedy to Archangel-Ortiz, describing the actions of the officers as entirely justified and heroic amidst an extreme crisis.
The altercation began when Archangel-Ortiz, distressed and aggrieved by the death of his partner who had been undergoing treatment at the facility, resorted to violence. Armed with a 9mm handgun reportedly stolen in 2017, he terrorized the hospital’s intensive care unit, keeping a staff member bound, while his aggression shot fear through the premises. Before being shot, Archangel-Ortiz had already threatened multiple employees and fired multiple rounds, injuring a doctor in the arm.
In response to this terror, more than twenty shots were discharged by the police attempting to subdue him. Unfortunately, one shotgun blast meant for Archangel-Ortiz also struck Officer Duarte and wounded another officer during the intense confrontation. Barker elaborated that the officers, unaware at the time that the attacker had no remaining bullets, acted with full commitment to safeguard the others at the hospital.
The attack took on deeper personal tragedies when it emerged that Duarte had amassed immense respect within his community, drawing hundreds of fellow officers to pay homage at his funeral. Honored as a genuine hero, his sacrifice resonated among those who acknowledged the commitment he showed until his last moments.
The escalating violence which healthcare workers endure was also a significant angle explored after this ordeal. Survivors, including nurse Tosha Trostle, recounted their terrifying experiences. Trostle detailed her moments of facing a gun-wielding Archangel-Ortiz, feeling immense relief and struggle when finally freed by officers in the throes of the chaos.
Through these events, the stark and terrifying ordeal of hospitals under siege has shed light on the growing urgency to address rising violence against healthcare providers across the United States. Despite no conclusive signs indicating Archangel-Ortiz’s impending hostility, the ordeal underscored the unpredictable nature of such incidents and the dire need for measures that ensure the safety of those in vulnerable spaces when threat reaches their doorstep.