A shooter from Pennsylvania kept a nurse under shot and tied her hands with zip tires in a horror hostage situation that led to the death of a young agent.
Diogenes Aartangel-Tortiz, 49, is said to have entered UPMC Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning around 10:45 am and aroused terror in the building while waving a semi-automatic weapon.
The public prosecutor in York County, Tim Barker, said that Ortiz shot six people in an hour -long spree in the hospital, including the fatal shooting of West York Borough Officer Andrew Duarte, 30.
A nurse, a custodian and a doctor and another police officer were also reportedly shot by the shooter before Ortiz was killed by the authorities.
When he started the Spree, Ortiz immediately went to intensive care when he focused on the hospital, but the motive remains unclear, Barker said.
UPMC announced on Saturday that no patients were damaged during the shooting and the five injured victims were in a stable condition.
Pennsylvania -Governor Josh Shapiro described the attack as 'the act of a coward' and led a tribute to Duarte after the young agent lost his life in the horror shooting.
Mourning people gather in York, Pennsylvania after a shooter, mentioned as Diogenes Aartsenel-Sortiz, 49, (not shown) shot six people in a horror spree in UPMC Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning
West York Borough Officer Andrew Duarte, 30, was tragically killed in the shooting, where the shooter hosted various hospital staff before he was murdered by the authorities
Officials said that when Ortiz opened fire in the hospital, he 'grazed' one doctor and hit a nurse and custodian before being shot by responding police officers.
Huldesten came in for Duarte after he was mentioned as the deceased police officer in Saturday's shooting.
At a wake outside the West York Borough Police Department Hours after his death, Duarte's girlfriend Zanna Morris said she was 'destroyed'.
“I am crushed,” she said. “He was the love of my life … I am proud, but I am also angry that he had to be.”
Duarte was one of the first on the spot when he responded to the shooting in the hospital, and Morris said that she was told that he saved lives today. ”
“Because of his actions, many lives were saved,” she said.
Duarte, who served for five years at the Denver Police Department in Colorado before joining the West York police in 2022, was identified in a Facebook report from the West York Borough Page and said that the community mourns the loss of a hero . '
'Our prayers and deepest participation go to the West York Borough Police Officer, the family of Andrew Duarte and all our brothers and sisters in the police of West York who have lost a comrade and friend, and moreover our colleague -Borough agencies that A lost colleague, 'the post read.
Officers responded on Saturday at 10:45 am to UPMC Memorial Hospital after the shooter reportedly immediately walked to the Intensive Care unit and the staff held hostage
On a wake for Duarte on Saturday evening, the girlfriend of the heroes Morris said that she was told that he saved lives today '
Duarte, 30, served with the Denver police in Colorado for five years before he joined the West York police in 2022
Shapiro said on Saturday evening that he had met Duarte's parents and said it was tragic to see his life cut too short. '
“In the midst of meaningless violence, law enforcement, first responds and medical professionals showed real heroism,” Shapiro said in a statement that praised the willingness of the officers to walk to danger. '
“Tragically enough we lost one of those heroes today.
'Tonight I had the privilege of spending time with the parents and colleague officers of officer Duarte to express our deep gratitude for Andrew and his service.
“I also visited with two officers who were injured in the service while answering the call to protect their fellow Pennsylvanians.”
According to Records obtained by Local21News, Ortiz had previous charges in York County.
The outlet showed that the alleged shooter was recently accused of driving with a suspended driver's license on 13 February 2025, in addition to other charges that date for years.
These include accusations of intimidation and 'contempt for breach of the order or agreement' from October 2016.
