Topline: Authorities identified the shooter as Matthew Ruth, 24, who opened fire on officers serving a warrant at his ex-girlfriend’s rural Pennsylvania home.
Published: September 19, 2025 8:00 am ET
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(via PSP)
SPRING GROVE, PA — Three police officers were shot and killed Wednesday afternoon while attempting to serve an arrest warrant in York County, Pennsylvania.
Two other officers were wounded in the ambush, one of whom remains hospitalized.
Authorities identified the gunman as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, who was killed at the scene after opening fire on officers with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a suppressor, according to WGAL.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker said Ruth had concealed himself in the cornfields and woods near a farmhouse on Haar Road in North Codorus Township. When members of the Northern York County Regional Police Department and a county sheriff’s deputy approached to serve the warrant around 2:10 p.m., they were met with a hail of gunfire.
Three detectives — Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, Det. Mark Baker, and Det. Isaiah Emenheiser — were fatally shot. A fourth Northern York officer and a sheriff’s deputy were also hit. The officers had deployed a drone to assess the scene beforehand, but were ultimately caught off guard by Ruth’s position and firepower, officials told CNN.
“Then I saw a body on the road,” said Dave Miller, a local resident who had been driving past the farm when the shooting erupted.
“It seemed like a war zone, sounded like a war zone,” he told CNN. As he took cover in his car, he feared the shooter could emerge from the cornfield nearby. “I just could not believe what I saw,” he said.
The officers had returned to the property following an incident the night before, when a woman living there reported seeing a man in camouflage watching her home through binoculars.
Court documents obtained by WGAL confirm that Ruth was spotted on a trail camera with what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle slung across his chest and a scope device aimed at the residence. The woman, who lived with her mother, had recently ended a relationship with Ruth and had already reported previous harassment. Her car had been set on fire in August, prompting the installation of the camera.
Police searched for Ruth Tuesday night but failed to locate him. A warrant for stalking, loitering, prowling at night, and criminal trespass was issued the next day. When officers returned to serve it, Ruth was already lying in wait.
According to 6ABC and the Associated Press, Ruth fired multiple rounds from inside the farmhouse when police opened the door. The ex-girlfriend and her mother were not home at the time. District Attorney Barker confirmed that the door was found unlocked despite being locked earlier by the residents, indicating that Ruth had broken in before the officers arrived.
The violence unfolded rapidly across a stretch of farmland about 115 miles west of Philadelphia. Police officials told CNN that Ruth initially engaged officers outside the home, killing three before retreating to the farmhouse and shooting two more. One of the wounded officers managed to return fire and fatally shot Ruth.
The Northern York County Regional Police Department issued a statement Thursday calling the attack “a dark and heartbreaking day” for the department and the entire community. “We are devastated by the loss of three of our officers and continue to pray for the recovery of a fourth who remains hospitalized,” the statement read.
Governor Josh Shapiro met with the families of the slain officers Wednesday evening. “This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day,” he told reporters. “We need to do better as a society. We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon, is the answer to resolving disputes.”
Even through their grief, each family I met with in York today told me how proud they are of their loved ones who put on the uniform and run toward danger to keep us safe.
They rallied for officers being treated by amazing medical staff — and together we shared our devastation… pic.twitter.com/CGoYgDSQVE
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) September 18, 2025
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that “violence against law enforcement is a scourge on our society and never acceptable.”
The attack marked one of the deadliest days for Pennsylvania law enforcement in modern history, equaling the 2009 ambush in Pittsburgh that left three officers dead. FBI data cited by CNN shows that 37 officers have died in the line of duty nationwide so far this year, amid what the agency says is a 10-year high in assaults on police.
A somber procession unfolded in the hours after the shooting. Residents lined the roads in Spring Grove, waving flags and saluting as police vehicles accompanied the bodies of the slain officers to the coroner’s office. Flowers and tributes began to appear outside the Northern York County police headquarters.
“We thank you for your compassion, patience, and support as we navigate this tragedy together,” the department said in a message to the public, adding that a verified donation portal for the victims’ families will be announced shortly.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who once served as a prosecutor in York County, called the loss “unfathomable.” In a statement on X, he said, “The death of any public servant is an absolute tragedy.”
As North Codorus Township begins to process the trauma left behind, neighbors like Bryan Rice are left stunned. “It’s strange walking down this road now and seeing all these cars and knowing what happened here,” he told 6ABC. “Still doesn’t feel real.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Authorities identified the shooter as Matthew Ruth, 24, who opened fire on officers serving a warrant at his ex-girlfriend’s rural Pennsylvania home.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 19, 2025 8:00 am ET
(via PSP)
SPRING GROVE, PA — Three police officers were shot and killed Wednesday afternoon while attempting to serve an arrest warrant in York County, Pennsylvania.
Two other officers were wounded in the ambush, one of whom remains hospitalized.
Authorities identified the gunman as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, who was killed at the scene after opening fire on officers with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a suppressor, according to WGAL.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker said Ruth had concealed himself in the cornfields and woods near a farmhouse on Haar Road in North Codorus Township. When members of the Northern York County Regional Police Department and a county sheriff’s deputy approached to serve the warrant around 2:10 p.m., they were met with a hail of gunfire.
Three detectives — Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, Det. Mark Baker, and Det. Isaiah Emenheiser — were fatally shot. A fourth Northern York officer and a sheriff’s deputy were also hit. The officers had deployed a drone to assess the scene beforehand, but were ultimately caught off guard by Ruth’s position and firepower, officials told CNN.
“Then I saw a body on the road,” said Dave Miller, a local resident who had been driving past the farm when the shooting erupted.
“It seemed like a war zone, sounded like a war zone,” he told CNN. As he took cover in his car, he feared the shooter could emerge from the cornfield nearby. “I just could not believe what I saw,” he said.
The officers had returned to the property following an incident the night before, when a woman living there reported seeing a man in camouflage watching her home through binoculars.
Court documents obtained by WGAL confirm that Ruth was spotted on a trail camera with what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle slung across his chest and a scope device aimed at the residence. The woman, who lived with her mother, had recently ended a relationship with Ruth and had already reported previous harassment. Her car had been set on fire in August, prompting the installation of the camera.
Police searched for Ruth Tuesday night but failed to locate him. A warrant for stalking, loitering, prowling at night, and criminal trespass was issued the next day. When officers returned to serve it, Ruth was already lying in wait.
According to 6ABC and the Associated Press, Ruth fired multiple rounds from inside the farmhouse when police opened the door. The ex-girlfriend and her mother were not home at the time. District Attorney Barker confirmed that the door was found unlocked despite being locked earlier by the residents, indicating that Ruth had broken in before the officers arrived.
The violence unfolded rapidly across a stretch of farmland about 115 miles west of Philadelphia. Police officials told CNN that Ruth initially engaged officers outside the home, killing three before retreating to the farmhouse and shooting two more. One of the wounded officers managed to return fire and fatally shot Ruth.
The Northern York County Regional Police Department issued a statement Thursday calling the attack “a dark and heartbreaking day” for the department and the entire community. “We are devastated by the loss of three of our officers and continue to pray for the recovery of a fourth who remains hospitalized,” the statement read.
Governor Josh Shapiro met with the families of the slain officers Wednesday evening. “This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day,” he told reporters. “We need to do better as a society. We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon, is the answer to resolving disputes.”
Even through their grief, each family I met with in York today told me how proud they are of their loved ones who put on the uniform and run toward danger to keep us safe.
They rallied for officers being treated by amazing medical staff — and together we shared our devastation… pic.twitter.com/CGoYgDSQVE
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) September 18, 2025
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that “violence against law enforcement is a scourge on our society and never acceptable.”
The attack marked one of the deadliest days for Pennsylvania law enforcement in modern history, equaling the 2009 ambush in Pittsburgh that left three officers dead. FBI data cited by CNN shows that 37 officers have died in the line of duty nationwide so far this year, amid what the agency says is a 10-year high in assaults on police.
A somber procession unfolded in the hours after the shooting. Residents lined the roads in Spring Grove, waving flags and saluting as police vehicles accompanied the bodies of the slain officers to the coroner’s office. Flowers and tributes began to appear outside the Northern York County police headquarters.
“We thank you for your compassion, patience, and support as we navigate this tragedy together,” the department said in a message to the public, adding that a verified donation portal for the victims’ families will be announced shortly.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who once served as a prosecutor in York County, called the loss “unfathomable.” In a statement on X, he said, “The death of any public servant is an absolute tragedy.”
As North Codorus Township begins to process the trauma left behind, neighbors like Bryan Rice are left stunned. “It’s strange walking down this road now and seeing all these cars and knowing what happened here,” he told 6ABC. “Still doesn’t feel real.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Police: Gunman Hid in Camouflage Before Ambushing State Troopers, Killing Three
Authorities identified the shooter as Matthew Ruth, 24, who opened fire on officers serving a warrant at his ex-girlfriend’s rural Pennsylvania home.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 19, 2025 8:00 am ET
(via PSP)
SPRING GROVE, PA — Three police officers were shot and killed Wednesday afternoon while attempting to serve an arrest warrant in York County, Pennsylvania.
Two other officers were wounded in the ambush, one of whom remains hospitalized.
Authorities identified the gunman as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, who was killed at the scene after opening fire on officers with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a suppressor, according to WGAL.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker said Ruth had concealed himself in the cornfields and woods near a farmhouse on Haar Road in North Codorus Township. When members of the Northern York County Regional Police Department and a county sheriff’s deputy approached to serve the warrant around 2:10 p.m., they were met with a hail of gunfire.
Three detectives — Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, Det. Mark Baker, and Det. Isaiah Emenheiser — were fatally shot. A fourth Northern York officer and a sheriff’s deputy were also hit. The officers had deployed a drone to assess the scene beforehand, but were ultimately caught off guard by Ruth’s position and firepower, officials told CNN.
“Then I saw a body on the road,” said Dave Miller, a local resident who had been driving past the farm when the shooting erupted.
“It seemed like a war zone, sounded like a war zone,” he told CNN. As he took cover in his car, he feared the shooter could emerge from the cornfield nearby. “I just could not believe what I saw,” he said.
The officers had returned to the property following an incident the night before, when a woman living there reported seeing a man in camouflage watching her home through binoculars.
Court documents obtained by WGAL confirm that Ruth was spotted on a trail camera with what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle slung across his chest and a scope device aimed at the residence. The woman, who lived with her mother, had recently ended a relationship with Ruth and had already reported previous harassment. Her car had been set on fire in August, prompting the installation of the camera.
Police searched for Ruth Tuesday night but failed to locate him. A warrant for stalking, loitering, prowling at night, and criminal trespass was issued the next day. When officers returned to serve it, Ruth was already lying in wait.
According to 6ABC and the Associated Press, Ruth fired multiple rounds from inside the farmhouse when police opened the door. The ex-girlfriend and her mother were not home at the time. District Attorney Barker confirmed that the door was found unlocked despite being locked earlier by the residents, indicating that Ruth had broken in before the officers arrived.
The violence unfolded rapidly across a stretch of farmland about 115 miles west of Philadelphia. Police officials told CNN that Ruth initially engaged officers outside the home, killing three before retreating to the farmhouse and shooting two more. One of the wounded officers managed to return fire and fatally shot Ruth.
The Northern York County Regional Police Department issued a statement Thursday calling the attack “a dark and heartbreaking day” for the department and the entire community. “We are devastated by the loss of three of our officers and continue to pray for the recovery of a fourth who remains hospitalized,” the statement read.
Governor Josh Shapiro met with the families of the slain officers Wednesday evening. “This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day,” he told reporters. “We need to do better as a society. We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon, is the answer to resolving disputes.”
Even through their grief, each family I met with in York today told me how proud they are of their loved ones who put on the uniform and run toward danger to keep us safe.
They rallied for officers being treated by amazing medical staff — and together we shared our devastation… pic.twitter.com/CGoYgDSQVE
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) September 18, 2025
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that “violence against law enforcement is a scourge on our society and never acceptable.”
The attack marked one of the deadliest days for Pennsylvania law enforcement in modern history, equaling the 2009 ambush in Pittsburgh that left three officers dead. FBI data cited by CNN shows that 37 officers have died in the line of duty nationwide so far this year, amid what the agency says is a 10-year high in assaults on police.
A somber procession unfolded in the hours after the shooting. Residents lined the roads in Spring Grove, waving flags and saluting as police vehicles accompanied the bodies of the slain officers to the coroner’s office. Flowers and tributes began to appear outside the Northern York County police headquarters.
“We thank you for your compassion, patience, and support as we navigate this tragedy together,” the department said in a message to the public, adding that a verified donation portal for the victims’ families will be announced shortly.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who once served as a prosecutor in York County, called the loss “unfathomable.” In a statement on X, he said, “The death of any public servant is an absolute tragedy.”
As North Codorus Township begins to process the trauma left behind, neighbors like Bryan Rice are left stunned. “It’s strange walking down this road now and seeing all these cars and knowing what happened here,” he told 6ABC. “Still doesn’t feel real.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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