Three police officers were killed and two left fighting for life after being shot in an apparent ambush in southern Pennsylvania Wednesday.
Officers were preparing to serve a warrant on a domestic callout in the North Codorus Township, a farming community in York County, when a suspect reportedly dressed in camouflage pulled a gun on them from a nearby cornfield, an official said.
Two surviving officers were taken to WellSpan York Hospital in York, PA, where they are in a critical but stable condition, state police commissioner Christopher Paris said. An officer was seen being airlifted by a medical helicopter.
Police have confirmed the shooter was killed in the incident. Although the suspect has not been publicly identified, CNN reported it was the ex-boyfriend of a woman living in the farmhouse where the shooting occurred.
One day earlier, the woman had alerted local police after she saw the accused in a nearby cornfield, law enforcement officials brief on the investigation told the network. Police reportedly obtained an arrest warrant but were not able to find the suspect.
"They were there to follow up on an investigation that began yesterday," Paris said. "The general heading of that investigation I would say would be domestic related."
Witness Dave Miller told CNN: “My heart was pounding, my heart was pounding. And then I looked at all the tall corn next to me and thought, well, if they didn’t get him, he’s on the run and he could come through the cornfield.”
He told CNN affiliate WGAL that the gunfire “wasn’t a quick ordeal” and that he heard at least 30 shots fired.
Local resident Dirk Anderson said he was in his shop when he heard “quite a few” shots from across the street, following by cops and the helicopter arriving.
North Codorus Township is about 115 miles (185 km) west of Philadelphia, not far from Maryland. Around 30 police vehicles blocked off roads bordered by a barn, a goat farm and soybean and corn fields to deal with the incident.
Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned the violence at a news conference after meeting the families of the casualties.
“This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day,” he said. “We grieve for the loss of life of three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth, served this country.”
Later writing on X, he said: “These officers represent the very best of us. They put their lives on the line to serve their community, their Commonwealth, and their country.
“The prayers of 13 million Pennsylvanians are with the victims, their families, and the good people of York County on this devastating day — and all those who put on the uniform to keep our Commonwealth safe.”
Family members of those killed were grieving but proud of their loved ones, Shapiro added.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi called the violence against police “a scourge on our society.”
She wrote on X: “The @FBI and @ATFHQ are on the scene supporting local law enforcement following the shooting of multiple police officers in York County, Pennsylvania.
“Violence against law enforcement is a scourge on our society and never acceptable. Pray for the officers involved.”
The shooting marks one of the deadliest days for Pennsylvania police this century. In 2009 three Pittsburgh officers responding to a domestic disturbance were ambushed and shot to death by a man in a bulletproof vest.
Police departments across the region expressed condolences on social media. Four of the officers were members of the Northern York Regional Police Department, while the fifth was a York County sheriff's deputy, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.
Hours after the shooting, community members held American flags to salute a procession of emergency vehicles to the coroner’s office.
Well-wishers left also flowers at the headquarters of the Northern York Regional Police Department.
The ongoing investigation into the shooting will cover multiple locations in York County, state police said in a statement.
