Claire Dawson
On February 22, 2025, a mass shooting and hostage situation took place at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. The shooter was identified as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, who had lived in York since the 1990s and had a history of mental illness. During the incident, Archangel-Ortiz took hostages in the intensive care unit (ICU) and opened fire, killing one police officer, Andrew Duarte, and wounding several others before being fatally shot by police.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz |
| Age | 49 |
| Date of Birth | November 4, 1975 |
| Date of Death | February 22, 2025 |
| Place of Birth | Bronx, New York |
| Parents' Nationality | Dominican |
| History of Mental Illness | Yes |
| Previous Criminal History | Yes |
| Date of Shooting | February 22, 2025 |
| Location of Shooting | UPMC Memorial Hospital, York County, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Victims Wounded | 7 |
| Number of Victims Killed | 2 (including the shooter) |
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What You'll Learn
The shooter was 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz
On February 22, 2025, a mass shooting and hostage situation unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital in Shiloh, Pennsylvania, near the city of York. The perpetrator was identified as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, who had lived in York since the 1990s and was born in the Bronx, New York, to Dominican parents. Archangel-Ortiz entered the hospital at 10:30 a.m., carrying a backpack containing a handgun, zip ties, and duct tape.
He specifically targeted the intensive care unit (ICU), taking hostages and opening fire on several people. Two people lost their lives in the incident, including Archangel-Ortiz, who was fatally shot by police, and Officer Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department, who was killed by friendly fire during the exchange of gunfire.
In addition to the two fatalities, seven others were injured. Among them were three police officers and four hospital staff members, including a doctor, a nurse, a custodian, and another staff member who was hurt in a fall. No patients were harmed during the incident.
According to Archangel-Ortiz's ex-girlfriend, he had a history of mental illness and suffered from depression. He had prior contact with the ICU, including a visit the week before the shooting for a medical purpose involving his wife, who passed away in hospice the night before the attack. Grief and anger were identified as possible motives for his violent actions. Archangel-Ortiz also had an extensive criminal record across the York area between 2007 and 2025.
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He was killed by police in a shootout
On February 22, 2025, a mass shooting and hostage situation unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital in Shiloh, Pennsylvania, near York. The shooter, 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, entered the hospital at around 10:30 a.m., carrying a backpack containing a handgun, zip ties, and duct tape. He made his way to the intensive care unit (ICU) and took hostages, including a female ICU employee whose hands he restrained with zip ties.
As law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, Archangel-Ortiz remained inside the hospital, holding a hostage at gunpoint. He eventually came out into the hallway, still holding the female employee at gunpoint. At this point, the police officers were forced to open fire, fatally wounding Archangel-Ortiz. Unfortunately, during the shootout, one of the officers, Andrew Duarte, was also killed. Officer Duarte, a member of the West York Borough Police Department, was struck by friendly fire during the gunfire exchange.
The motive behind Archangel-Ortiz's attack remains unclear. However, it was later discovered that he had a history of mental illness and had previously been removed from the hospital by security the night before the shooting. His wife had passed away in hospice care the same night, and grief and anger were identified as possible motives for his violent actions.
The York County District Attorney, Timothy J. Barker, confirmed that the officers were justified in their use of deadly force, stating that their actions potentially saved many lives. The incident at UPMC Memorial Hospital highlighted the ongoing issue of mass shootings in the nation, with this incident being one of at least 37 mass shootings in the first two months of the year.
The community mourned the loss of Officer Duarte, who was remembered as a hero and a dedicated servant to his community. A memorial with flowers and mementos was set up outside the West York Police Department, honoring the fallen officer and expressing gratitude for his bravery and sacrifice.
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A police officer, Andrew Duarte, was killed
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, a mass shooting and hostage situation took place at UPMC Memorial Hospital in Shiloh, Pennsylvania, near York. The shooter, 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, entered the hospital at 10:30 a.m., carrying a backpack containing a handgun, zip ties, and duct tape. He made his way to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he took hostages and opened fire, striking three staff members, including a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian.
During the armed confrontation, three police officers were struck by gunfire, including Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department. Officer Duarte was a law enforcement veteran who had joined the West York Borough Police Department in 2022 after working for five years with the Denver Police Department in Colorado as a patrol officer. Sadly, Officer Duarte succumbed to his gunshot injuries and passed away. His death was confirmed in a Facebook post by the West York Borough Police Department, with York County District Attorney Timothy J. Barker stating that "the officers were justified in taking their action and using deadly force."
The motive behind Archangel-Ortiz's attack remains unknown, although it was confirmed to be targeted. According to reports, Archangel-Ortiz had a history of mental illness and had previously been removed from the hospital by security the night before the shooting due to an incident involving his wife. Grief and anger were identified as possible factors contributing to his actions.
The tragic loss of Officer Duarte has left his community grieving. Tributes and memorials honoring his bravery and dedication to protecting and serving have been shared, including a plaque outside the intensive care unit bearing his name. The country artist Justin Moore also headlined a concert, "Fields of Honor," to honor Officer Duarte's memory and benefit UPMC Memorial Hospital staff.
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Two police officers and three staff members were wounded
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, a mass shooting took place at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. The shooter was identified as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, who had lived in York since the 1990s and was born in the Bronx, New York, to Dominican parents. Archangel-Ortiz entered the hospital at around 10:30 a.m., carrying a bag containing a gun and zip ties and, in some reports, duct tape. He made his way to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he took several hospital staff members as hostages.
During the hostage situation, Archangel-Ortiz opened fire, wounding two police officers and three hospital staff members. The wounded staff members included a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian. All five victims were in stable condition following the shooting.
As law enforcement officers responded to the active shooter situation, Archangel-Ortiz was fatally shot by police. One police officer, Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department, was killed in the crossfire during the shootout with the gunman. Officer Duarte was a law enforcement veteran who had previously served with the Denver Police Department in Colorado for five years before joining the West York Borough Police Department in 2022.
The motive behind Archangel-Ortiz's targeted attack on the hospital's ICU remains unclear. However, it was revealed that he had a history of mental illness and had previously been removed from the hospital by security the night before the shooting due to an incident involving his wife, who had passed away that night.
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The motive was unknown, but anger and grief were suspected
On February 22, 2025, a mass shooting and hostage situation unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital in Shiloh, Pennsylvania, near York. The gunman, 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, entered the hospital at around 10:30 a.m., carrying a bag containing a semi-automatic pistol, zip ties, and duct tape. He made his way to the intensive care unit (ICU) and took several hospital staffers hostage, including a female employee whom he restrained with zip ties.
During the incident, Archangel-Ortiz opened fire, wounding three staff members—a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian—and three police officers. One of the officers, Andrew Duarte, a veteran law enforcement officer from the West York Borough Police Department, was fatally struck by friendly fire. The situation culminated in a shootout between Archangel-Ortiz and the police, resulting in his death.
While the specific motive behind Archangel-Ortiz's actions remains unknown, anger and grief were suspected to have played a role. He had a history of mental illness, including depression, and had experienced recent losses. Archangel-Ortiz's wife had passed away in hospice the night before the shooting, and he had prior contact with the ICU, including a visit to the hospital the week prior for a medical purpose involving his wife.
The shooting had a profound impact on the community, with people gathering to mourn and pay tribute to the fallen officer, Duarte. A makeshift memorial was created outside the West York Police Department, where individuals left flowers and mementos. The York County community expressed their heartbreak over the loss of Duarte, who was recognized for his bravery and dedication to protecting others.
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Frequently asked questions
The shooter was identified as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz.
Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz's motive was unknown, but officials identified anger and grief as possible reasons for his actions.
Yes, Archangel-Ortiz had an extensive criminal history across the York area between 2007 and 2025 before the shooting.
Yes, three hospital staff members and two police officers were wounded but were in stable condition.
Yes, Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz and police officer Andrew Duarte were killed in the shooting.
