Written by: Robin Hattersley – Feb 24, 2025

YORK, Pa. – A mass shooting unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning, leaving six people injured and two dead, including a police officer who responded to the scene and the gunman himself.

The suspect, identified as Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, 49, entered the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) just after 10:30 a.m. carrying a bag with a handgun and zip ties. Authorities reported that Archangel-Ortiz held hospital staff members hostage, opening fire and hitting multiple individuals, including a doctor, a nurse, a custodian, and three police officers. A hospital staff member was also injured in a fall while attempting to escape the violence.

Police officers from 10 jurisdictions responded to the scene. When they arrived, they initially tried to de-escalate the situation. However, the standoff turned deadly when Archangel-Ortiz exited the ICU holding a gun and a hospital staff member, whose hands were zip-tied. Authorities say officers had no other choice but to open fire, killing Archangel-Ortiz.

The police officer who was killed has been identified as 30-year-old Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department, reports YDR.

No patients at the facility were harmed, officials confirmed.

Motive for UPMC Memorial Shooting: Grief and Anger Over Family Member’s Death

Archangel-Ortiz’s actions were reportedly fueled by grief and anger over what he perceived to be insufficient care provided to a family member who had been recently treated in UPMC Memorial Hospital’s ICU. The family member, who was terminally ill, passed away within the past week, a senior official stated.

Lester Mendoza, a physician assistant at UPMC Memorial and one of the individuals who previously interacted with the gunman after the death of his loved one, shared a heartfelt reflection on social media, reports WGAL.

“I spoke with the very man who did this act … I saw his devastation firsthand,” Mendoza wrote. “I truly did not see a monster. He was simply broken.”

Mendoza emphasized the mental health challenges that often go unaddressed during times of grief and highlighted the broader stressors of healthcare providers who work with limited resources.

This shooting highlights issues surrounding mental health resources, the emotional toll of grief, and the safety of healthcare workers in high-pressure environments.

UPMC Memorial Hospital is a five-story, 104-bed facility that opened in 2019. Staff members say the facility does not have metal detectors.

This article appeared on Campus Safety News and is shared with consent: https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/news/6-injured-2-dead-in-pennsylvania-hospital-shooting/167797/