York County, Pennsylvania, is mourning one of the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in the state’s history — an ambush that claimed the lives of three officers and left two others gravely wounded on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
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YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Authorities have identified the suspect in Wednesday’s ambush that left three police officers dead and two others critically wounded as Matthew James Ruth, 24, of Hanover, Pennsylvania.
The shooting occurred shortly after 2 p.m. on Sept. 17 at a farmhouse on Haar Road in North Codorus Township near Spring Grove, where officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant tied to a domestic-related stalking investigation.
Officials say Ruth opened fire on officers as they approached the residence, killing three detectives and wounding two other members of law enforcement; the wounded were taken to WellSpan York Hospital in critical condition. Ruth was shot and killed by police during the confrontation.
Pennsylvania State Police and local agencies are leading the investigation into the ambush, and state and local officials have expressed condolences to the families and departments affected. The attack has prompted a wide outpouring of grief across the region and renewed attention to officer safety during warrant services.
Funeral arrangements for the officers killed have not yet been announced pending family notifications, officials said. Authorities asked the public to avoid the area while investigators continue their work.