Three Officers Killed, Two Wounded in York County Shooting

- Incident unfolded in North Codorus Township around 2 p.m. on September 17 - Officers serving a domestic-related warrant ambushed by gunman - Shooter fatally shot by responding police, investigation ongoing

Three law enforcement officers were killed and two others critically wounded on Wednesday in North Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire as they served a warrant; the suspect was shot dead by police.

The ambush occurred during a follow-up to a domestic-related investigation initiated the previous day, highlighting the dangers officers face and prompting local schools to briefly shelter in place.

State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris confirmed that the five officers had returned to the scene of the original inquiry when shots rang out; police returned fire, killing the assailant. The three fallen officers represent one of the deadliest single-day losses for Pennsylvania law enforcement this century, while the two surviving officers remain in critical but stable condition at WellSpan York Hospital.

Governor Josh Shapiro traveled to York County to meet the families of the slain and wounded officers, calling the violence “absolutely devastating” and urging improved support for mental health and public safety measures. He noted that federal partners, including the FBI and ATF, have joined the state police in a “major case team” to ensure a thorough investigation.

Local authorities enacted a temporary shelter-in-place for the Spring Grove Area School District as a precaution and closed several roads around the rural barn and farmland scene; all restrictions were lifted later in the afternoon. Residents were advised to avoid the area while investigators secured the perimeter and collected evidence.