The shooter faced multiple charges, including stalking, officials confirmed.
A man accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend opened fire on several law enforcement officers at her home in southern Pennsylvania on Wednesday, killing three and wounding two others in what officials described as a “murderous rampage.”
Four detectives from the Northern York County Regional Police Department and a York County deputy sheriff were shot, York County District Attorney Timothy Barker said. Three detectives died from their injuries.
The officers had arrived at the rural North Codorus Township home on Wednesday afternoon during a domestic violence investigation. An arrest warrant had been issued for the suspect, 24-year-old Matthew Ruth of Hanover, after his ex-girlfriend reported he had been looking into the home the night before while armed with a rifle, Barker explained.
5 officers shot, 3 killed in Pennsylvania while serving warrant
Barker said the ex-girlfriend and her mother had left the home for safety before the attack.
As officers searched the property, they found the front door unlocked. When they opened it, Ruth immediately unleashed multiple rounds of gunfire from an AR-15-style rifle with a suppressor.
Four detectives were hit. A fifth detective and the deputy sheriff returned fire. The deputy sheriff was struck, but the other detective fatally shot Ruth, then rendered aid and called for backup, according to Barker.
Fallen detectives
The three detectives killed were:
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Sgt. Cody Becker, 39
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Mark Baker, 53
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Isaiah Emenheiser, 43
A fourth detective was critically wounded.
Barker also revealed Ruth killed his ex-girlfriend’s Labrador, which was later found dead in the basement.
“There is one motive, though, that is clear for everything, and that is the hateful scourge of domestic violence. That is what brought us here. That is what brought law enforcement here, that is what started all the activity,” Barker said.
‘He saved many lives that day’
Barker praised the detective who killed Ruth, saying his quick action prevented further bloodshed.
“He saved many lives that day. If the actor was not eliminated and his threat and murderous rampage eliminated, who knows where this would have stopped.”
Pennsylvania State Police are leading the investigation, which covers multiple locations across York County. Earlier Wednesday, Northern York County police had already searched Ruth’s home. Additional search warrants will follow, Barker noted.
Community in mourning
Northern York County Regional Police Chief Dave Lash called Wednesday “a dark day” for the department and county.
“We are mourning the loss of three of our officers, and we continue to pray for the recovery of our fourth, and also for the recovery of the York County sheriff’s deputy.”
The department temporarily closed its administrative offices, while neighboring police and state troopers provided coverage.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro met with the families of the wounded officers.
“They’ve got a long road ahead of them, and I just found it so striking that while they were there in the hospital, worried about the well-being of their family members, they were also just so proud of how their family members put that uniform on yesterday and ran out toward danger to keep others safe.”
He added: “Those who serve and protect our Commonwealth, they’re the best of us.”
Stalking and earlier reports
Court records show Ruth faced charges of stalking, loitering, and criminal trespass.
Police had responded to the home Tuesday night after a resident reported a man using binoculars to peer through a window. Trail cameras captured Ruth in camouflage with an AR-15-style rifle strapped to his chest.
The ex-girlfriend identified him as her former boyfriend. She also suspected him of setting her truck on fire on Aug. 20, though she had not pursued an investigation. The women had installed the trail camera after that incident.
Officers tried to find Ruth on Tuesday but couldn’t locate him. They later found his unoccupied truck nearby.
The ex-girlfriend told police they had dated briefly, but Ruth had never been invited to her home.
Barker said officials found no prior convictions that would have legally barred him from owning a firearm.
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