MARCH 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.3

AROUND THE COUNTRYYORK,

AROUND THE COUNTRYYORK, PA.Patrolman Andrew Duarte was shot and killed while responding toreports of an active shooter at the UPMC Memorial Hospital.By Mark ScolforoAssociated PressYORK, PA. — A man armed witha pistol and carrying zip tiesentered a Pennsylvania hospital’sintensive care unit Saturdayand took staff members hostagebefore he was killed by police ina shootout that also left AndrewDuarte of the West York BoroughPolice Department dead.Three workers at UPMC MemorialHospital, including a doctor,a nurse and a custodian, andtwo other officers were shotand wounded in the attack, YorkCounty District Attorney TimBarker said. A fourth staffer wasinjured in a fall.Gunfire erupted after officerswent to engage the shooter,whom Barker identified as DiogenesArchangel-Ortiz, 49. Hesaid Archangel-Ortiz was holdingat gunpoint a female staffmember who had her handsbound with zip ties when policeopened fire.“This is a huge loss to ourcommunity,” Barker said at apress conference following theshooting. “It is absolutely clear,and beyond any and all doubt,that the officers were justified intaking their action using deadly46 The BLUES - MARCH ‘25OFFICER ANDREW DUARTEforce.”Barker added that while theinvestigation is in its early stages,it appears Archangel-Ortizhad previous contact with thehospital’s ICU earlier in the weekfor “a medical purpose involvinganother individual” and he intentionallytargeted the workersthere.“We all have broken hearts andare grieving at his loss,” WestYork Borough Manager ShawnMauck told The Associated Press.Duarte was a law enforcementveteran who joined the departmentin 2022 after five yearswith the Denver Police Department,according to his LinkedInprofile. He described receiving a“hero award” in 2021 from MothersAgainst Drunk Driving for hiswork in impaired driving enforcementfor the state of Colorado.“I have a type A personality andlike to succeed in all that I do,”his LinkedIn profile said.Duarte also worked as a patrolofficer in Denver, was highlyregarded for his work and wasclose friends with other officers,the department there said in astatement.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapirosaid he met Saturday eveningwith Duarte’s parents and fellowofficers who were wounded.“Their willingness to run towarddanger helped save thelives of others,” Shapiro said onthe social platform X. “I’m gratefulto them and all law enforcementwho answered the calltoday in York.”At a makeshift memorial onthe front steps of the West YorkBorough Police Department,Linda Shields dropped off rosesSaturday and dabbed tears asshe thought of her son, a policeofficer in Maryland.

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