Fetterman on PA hospital shooting: 'A place of healing turned into tragedy'

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman confirmed the news of a tragic shooting in a place near to his heart -- his hometown.

In York County, Pennsylvania, a West York police officer by the name of Andrew Duarte was killed while responding to a hostage situation.

Duarte was attempting to free hostages from a hospital after an armed gunman entered the ICU and took several hospital staff hostage.

The gunman, Diogenes Archangel Ortiz, shot at various hospital staff members and officers before being killed by police.

Five others were injured in the shootout.

York County District Attorney Tim Barker confirmed that “after reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements, it is absolutely clear and beyond any doubt that the officers acted lawfully in using deadly force.”

“Quite frankly, they needed to-because by doing so, they potentially saved even more lives,” Barker said.

Fetterman took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to share the news with his followers.

“A senseless shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York -- my hometown,” Fetterman began.

“A place of healing turned into a tragedy. My family grieves for the family of the heroic West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte who put his life on the line to protect others,” Fetterman said, giving his condolences to Duarte’s family.

A senseless shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York—my hometown.

A place of healing turned into a tragedy.

My family grieves for the family of the heroic West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte who put his life on the line to protect others.

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) February 22, 2025

Duarte’s university, PennWest California in western Pennsylvania, shared condolences when officials there learned the news of Duarte’s death.

“We mourn the loss of Andrew Duarte, who was a valued member of our PennWest California alumni family. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, and we join them in remembering his dedication and service,” the statement read.

The men like Duarte who put their lives on the line every single day to protect the members of this country are heroes.

We pray for the officer's co-workers, friends, family members, and loved ones during this tragic time.