Anguish and anger at the very recent loss of a loved one apparently spurred on the man who would target the intensive care unit at a Pennsylvania hospital Saturday morning, a senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News.
One officer was killed and at least five others were shot in the hostage situation that unfolded at a hospital in York County, according to state officials.
The suspect, Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, entered UPMC Memorial in West Manchester Township with a semi-automatic handgun and zip ties at around 10:30 a.m. He then went to the ICU and took several hospital staff hostage, officials said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
Ortiz shot a hospital doctor, nurse and custodian, all of whom are now stable, officials said. Three police officers were shot during the incident and one died.
West York Borough police officer Andrew Duarte was killed in the shooting, the borough confirmed. The other two officers were hospitalized in stable condition.
Archangel-Ortiz was upset over what he perceived was a lack of care for a family member who had just been in the hospital’s ICU, the senior official said. That family member was terminal — something Archangel-Ortiz had difficulty accepting, the official added.
The family member had died within the last week.
When Archangel-Ortiz entered the hospital Saturday, he headed for the ICU where there was a small medical team, including one doctor who had treated his family member, the senior official said.
Archangel-Ortiz is believed to have acted alone in the incident.
“This is a huge loss to our community,” York County District Attorney Tim Barker said. “Officer Duarte gave his life protecting others.”
Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including West York Borough Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and the York County Quick Response Team, responded to the situation. Officers attempted to negotiate with Ortiz, but he emerged from the ICU holding a hospital staff member at gunpoint, her hands bound by zip ties.
“The officers were left with no recourse,” Barker said. “They opened fire, killing Ortiz and preventing further loss of life.”
“After reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements, it is absolutely clear and beyond any doubt that the officers acted lawfully in using deadly force,” he said. “Quite frankly, they needed to—because by doing so, they potentially saved even more lives.”
UPMC said no patients were injured in the shooting.
