NORTH CODORUS, Pa. (AP) — Law enforcement officials are actively investigating a tragic shooting incident that occurred in southern Pennsylvania, which resulted in the deaths of three police officers and left two others wounded. The violent event unfolded in rural York County on September 17, 2025, during efforts by law enforcement to follow up on a domestic-related investigation that had commenced two days earlier, on September 15. The shooter was killed by police at the scene of the incident.
In the hours following the shooting, community members gathered to pay their respects, holding American flags and saluting as police and emergency vehicles formed a procession en route to the coroner's office. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his condolences at a news conference, describing the situation as a "tragic loss of life." Attorney General Pamela Bondi characterized violence against police as "a scourge on our society."
This incident marks one of the deadliest days for Pennsylvania law enforcement in this century. The last time the state witnessed a similar level of violence was in 2009 when three Pittsburgh officers were ambushed and murdered during a domestic disturbance. Police departments across the region have responded with condolences shared on social media, and tributes in the form of flowers have been left outside the Northern York Regional Police Department headquarters.
The ongoing investigation is expected to encompass multiple locations throughout York County, as noted by state police in their statement. The shooting took place in North Codorus Township, located approximately 115 miles (185 km) west of Philadelphia and close to the Maryland border. Local resident Dirk Anderson reported hearing "quite a few" gunshots from his home across the street, stating that he witnessed police and emergency helicopters responding to the scene.
The emergency response involved a significant number of police vehicles, with around 30 units present at the scene, effectively blocking roads in a rural area bordered by a barn, a goat farm, and expansive fields of corn and soybeans. The two officers who sustained injuries are currently listed in critical but stable condition at York Hospital.
Authorities have not released the names of the shooter, the deceased officers, or the specific police department they belonged to, nor have they provided details regarding how the officers were shot, citing the ongoing investigation as the reason for withholding this information.
In the aftermath of the event, grieving family members expressed their sorrow while simultaneously feeling proud of their loved ones who served as officers. This incident is part of a broader trend of violence against law enforcement, which raises significant concerns within the community. Notably, another officer was killed earlier this year in February during a hostage situation at a hospital's intensive care unit, a deadly encounter that ended in gunfire leading to both the death of the gunman and a police officer.
As the situation continues to develop, law enforcement officials and community leaders are grappling with the consequences of this tragic event, underscoring the need for discussions surrounding police safety and violence in society.
