Police officer dead and gunman killed after shooting at Pennsylvania's UPMC Memorial Hospital
A gunman was shot and killed after opening fire at a Pennsylvania hospital. Authorities are investigating the incident as details emerge about the attack.
A police officer and a gunman lost their lives in a shooting at a Pennsylvania hospital in York County on Saturday morning, officials confirmed. The incident occurred at UPMC Memorial Hospital at approximately 10:45 a.m., prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the gunman's identity, but the fallen officer has been identified as Andrew Duarte, according to a statement posted on the West York Borough Facebook page.
"Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to West York Borough Police Officer, Andrew Duarte's family and all of our brothers and sisters in the West York Borough Police Department that have lost a comrade and friend, and furthermore our fellow Borough agencies that have lost a colleague," the post read. "Our community grieves the loss of a hero."
Hospital officials confirm no patient injuries
In a statement, Susan Manko, vice president of public relations for UPMC, reassured the public that no patients were injured during the incident. However, the extent of any other injuries remains unclear. The hospital has urged employees not scheduled to work on Saturday to stay home as authorities manage the situation.
Family members of patients arriving at the hospital have been directed to the parking lot of the OSS building across the street, according to Manko.
Governor Shapiro responds to the shooting
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on social media that he has been briefed on the shooting and is en route to UPMC Memorial. He emphasized that the hospital is secure, though law enforcement continues to assess the situation.
UPMC Memorial, a five-story, 104-bed facility, opened in 2019 and serves York, a city of 40,000 residents, widely known as the birthplace of York Peppermint Patties in 1940.
Gun violence in U.S. Hospitals
The shooting at UPMC Memorial is part of an alarming trend of gun violence targeting hospitals and medical centers across the United States. Healthcare workers now face some of the highest rates of workplace violence, with the CDC reporting that medical professionals suffer more non-fatal injuries from workplace attacks than workers in any other industry.
- 2023: A shooter killed a security guard in the lobby of New Hampshire’s state psychiatric hospital before being fatally shot by law enforcement.
- 2022: A man killed two healthcare workers at a Dallas hospital while visiting for the birth of his child.
- May 2022: A gunman opened fire in an Atlanta medical center waiting room, killing one woman and injuring four others.
- June 2022: A man killed his surgeon and three others at a Tulsa, Oklahoma medical office, blaming the doctor for continued pain after an operation.