Stalking Suspect Ambushes Police, Killing Three Officers in Rural Pennsylvania

Three officers were fatally shot and two critically wounded as they served a warrant Thursday in York County.

NORTH CODORUS TOWNSHIP, Pa., Sept. 18, 2025 - A 24-year-old suspect identified as Matthew James Ruth opened fire on law enforcement officers from a cornfield outside a farmhouse, killing three and wounding two as they attempted to arrest him on stalking and related charges.

Ruth had been sought on misdemeanor stalking, trespassing, loitering and prowling charges stemming from a report that he had been watching his ex-girlfriend’s home with binoculars the previous evening. Authorities state the shooting represents one of the deadliest attacks on police in Pennsylvania in recent history.

Investigation Unfolds Amid Mourning

Officials say deputies and state troopers returned to the North Codorus Township property around 2 p.m. Wednesday to serve a warrant when Ruth, dressed in camouflage, ambushed them with rifle fire from an adjacent cornfield. Three officers-two detectives and a sheriff’s deputy-were killed instantly; two others were transported to a trauma center in critical but stable condition.

  • Officers arrived after a resident reported seeing a man in camouflage lurking outside with binoculars on Sept. 16.
  • Trail camera footage captured the suspect with an AR-15-style rifle slung across his chest, leading to stalking charges before the ambush.
  • Ruth was killed by return fire from one of the officers on scene.

Response and Next Steps

Governor Josh Shapiro decried the violence as “tragic and devastating,” urging improved social support to prevent such shootings. A joint press conference featuring the Pennsylvania State Police and York County District Attorney is scheduled for Thursday afternoon to release additional findings and update the public on the injured officers’ conditions.

Law enforcement agencies statewide have rallied to assist the Northern York County Regional Police Department, describing Wednesday as “a dark and heartbreaking day” for Pennsylvania officers.

Community Impact

Neighbors recall hearing dozens of shots echo across the farmland, then seeing a dozen emergency vehicles and a helicopter converge on the rural scene within minutes. Investigators have collected evidence from Ruth’s Hanover residence, where officers searched twice prior to Wednesday’s fatal encounter.

Officials continue to examine the domestic circumstances that precipitated the warrant and shooting, with federal agencies offering support to local investigators. Updates will follow as the inquiry progresses.