YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Three police officers were killed when they were trying to serve a warrant in a domestic-related investigation. Two other officers were injured.

CNN reported that the officers were approaching a farmhouse and that the alleged gunman, dressed in camouflage, was lying in wait in a nearby cornfield in North Codorus Township, Pennsylvania.

Alleged shooter’s identity confirmed

Update 10:29 a.m. ET, Sept. 18: The Associated Press is reporting that police have identified Matthew James Ruth, 24, as the alleged shooter. A law enforcement official told the AP on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak.

CNN had earlier identified Ruth as the alleged shooter, with his identity confirmed by two state law enforcement officials.

What led up to the shooting?

Update 9:55 a.m. ET, Sept. 18: The woman who called police saw the alleged shooter on a trail camera standing in her driveway, WPMT reported.

The woman said that he had possibly driven to the property in a black truck. A truck matching one that the woman’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend was known to drive was found nearby, the York Daily Record reported.

Police have also released more details on the events that led up to Wednesday’s shooting.

The daughter of the woman who called on Wednesday said that someone set her pickup truck on fire on Aug. 20. She told police on Sept. 11 that she thought her ex-boyfriend did it, but wasn’t sure, WPMT reported.

She did not identify him on Sept. 11. On Sept. 13, a fire investigator determined that the truck fire was intentionally set, WPMT reported.

The woman’s daughter then told police that she and Matthew Ruth had dated for a short time and had never been to her house or been invited there, police said in a report.

Ruth was facing several charges on Wednesday in connection with that investigation, including misdemeanor stalking, misdemeanor prowling at nighttime and summary criminal trespass, the York Daily Record reported.

Original report: A woman who lived at the home had seen the man stalking the home from a cornfield on Tuesday and called police, according to CNN . An arrest warrant and restraining order were issued. Police attempted to serve the man with the orders on Tuesday, but were unsuccessful.

On Wednesday afternoon, they returned to the property to serve the paperwork, and that’s when they came under fire.

It was not known if he was waiting for the officers or his ex-girlfriend.

Police said he opened fire, hitting and killing the three officers, before he moved closer to the house. He hit two other officers, but one was able to fire back, killing the alleged gunman.

The wounded officers were in critical but stable condition, The New York Times reported.

The alleged shooter’s name has not been released or the officers because of the investigation, The Associated Press reported.

Witnesses told WGAL that there were at least 30 shots fired.

As the bodies of the three police officers were taken to the county coroner’s office, people lined the streets, holding American flags and saluting, the AP reported. Flowers were also left at the Northern York Regional Police Department headquarters.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said that federal agents were assisting local and state authorities on the investigation.

©2025 Cox Media Group