Three Officers Killed in Ambush at Pennsylvania Farm/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Three law enforcement officers were killed and two others critically wounded in a targeted shooting in rural Pennsylvania. The suspect, identified as Matthew Ruth, ambushed officers serving a warrant at a farmhouse in North Codorus Township. The community is mourning in shock, as officials launch a full investigation into one of the state’s deadliest law enforcement tragedies in decades.
Officer Shootings in Pennsylvania – Quick Looks
- Three officers killed, two wounded in York County standoff.
- Suspect identified as Matthew Ruth, 24, ambushed officers in camouflage.
- More than 30 shots fired near a rural farmhouse during the attack.
- Gunman killed at the scene after wounded officer returned fire.
- Incident unfolded during warrant service, related to stalking and trespassing charges.
- Governor Shapiro calls it “tragic and devastating”, urges national reflection.
- Community holds late-night procession to honor fallen officers.
- FBI, ATF, and state authorities now investigating the deadly shooting.
- Spring Grove residents in shock, area schools briefly locked down.
- Violence against police reaches 10-year high, FBI stats show.
Deep Look
3 Officers Killed, 2 Wounded in Pennsylvania Shooting as Ambush Shocks Rural Community
Spring Grove, Pennsylvania — A rural Pennsylvania town was left shattered Wednesday after a deadly ambush at a York County farmhouse ended with three law enforcement officers dead, two more critically injured, and a community reeling from one of the state’s most violent police tragedies in years.
The shooting erupted around 2 p.m. in North Codorus Township, a quiet agricultural region about 115 miles west of Philadelphia. Officers from the Northern York County Regional Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office had arrived to serve an arrest warrant, reportedly tied to stalking allegations filed by a local woman.
What they found instead was an armed suspect, dressed in camouflage and hidden among tall cornfields, waiting.
Ambush in the Fields
According to sources briefed on the investigation, the gunman—24-year-old Matthew James Ruth—was already in position when officers approached the property. Ruth was facing active charges of stalking, loitering, criminal trespass, and other offenses.
Despite using drones to survey the area beforehand, officers were taken by surprise. Ruth opened fire without warning, unleashing more than 30 rounds in a matter of minutes.
“It seemed like a war zone,” said Dave Miller, a neighbor who was driving by the property at the time. “Sounded like a war zone.”
Miller told CNN he watched in horror as an officer fell to the ground. “I just could not believe what I saw,” he said. Fearing the shooter could be on the move, Miller ducked into his vehicle, terrified the attacker might emerge from the cornfields nearby.
Five Shot, Gunman Neutralized
Three officers died at the scene, according to law enforcement. Two others were shot and seriously wounded but were able to return fire. One of the injured officers fatally shot the suspect, ending the rampage.
At a press conference, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris confirmed the fatalities and said both surviving officers are in critical but stable condition.
“The grief will be unbearable, but we will bear it,” said Paris. “This investigation will be full, fair, and relentless.”
Authorities have not yet released the names of the fallen officers. A procession of law enforcement vehicles carried their bodies through Spring Grove late Wednesday night, as residents lined the streets waving American flags and saluting in silence.
Suspect Had Prior Charges, Connection to Property
Officials say Ruth was the ex-boyfriend of a woman who lived at the farmhouse. She had contacted police just a day earlier to report Ruth stalking her residence. Officers obtained a restraining order and arrest warrant but failed to locate him during an initial attempt to serve the order Tuesday night.
When they returned on Wednesday, Ruth appeared to be lying in wait—wearing camouflage and concealed in the field, possibly targeting either his ex-girlfriend or responding officers.
The motive remains unclear, and investigators have not ruled out whether Ruth may have intended to harm both the woman and law enforcement.
A Town in Mourning
The shock of the tragedy spread quickly through the small farming community, where violent crime is rare and police are familiar faces.
In response, Spring Grove School District briefly ordered a lockdown, later lifted once authorities secured the area. Roads were closed near the barn as investigators began piecing together the timeline of the shooting.
By nightfall, mourners gathered in solemn tribute, participating in a procession to honor the fallen officers. Fire trucks raised ladders to form an arch, under which the line of first responder vehicles slowly passed.
Leaders Respond with Grief, Urgency
Governor Josh Shapiro, who visited with the families of the slain officers, described the day as “absolutely tragic and devastating.”
“We need to do better as a society,” Shapiro told reporters. “We need to help people who believe that picking up a gun is the way to solve problems.”
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, a longtime York County prosecutor, called the event “unfathomable.”
“The death of any public servant is an absolute tragedy,” Sunday said in a statement.
A Pattern of Escalating Violence
The incident marks one of the deadliest days for law enforcement in Pennsylvania in decades. Just months ago, another York County officer was killed in a hospital standoff.
The FBI and ATF have joined the Pennsylvania State Police in a major case investigation, in partnership with the York County District Attorney’s Office.
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X (formerly Twitter), condemning the attack: “Violence against law enforcement is a scourge on our society and never acceptable. Pray for the officers involved.”
FBI statistics released last month showed that reported assaults on law enforcement officers reached a 10-year high in 2024, a troubling trend now underscored by Wednesday’s events.
So far in 2025, 37 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty nationwide.
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