Patrolman Andrew William Duarte

Andrew William Duarte

Patrolman Andrew Duarte was shot and killed while responding to reports of an active shooter at the UPMC Memorial Hospital on Innovation Drive and Roosevelt Avenue in York at 10:43 a.m.

A subject entered the UPMC Memorial Hospital ICU on Saturday morning and, after learning the woman he lived with had died, he pulled out a gun and started firing, striking a doctor and another hospital worker. He continued to threaten hospital employees and took a few hostages. When officers arrived at the scene, the subject shot at officers and ordered them to retreat. Despite efforts to talk to the shooter, he refused to engage. When he emerged from the ICU, he was holding a female nurse hostage, whose hands were bound with zip ties, at gunpoint. Unknown to officers on the scene, the subject was out of ammunition and his gun was empty. When the subject refused to release his hostage, officers fired. Two bullets struck Patrolman Duarte, mortally wounding him.

During the standoff, the subject called his brother and shared his situation, stating that he was ready to die.

Four hospital employees were injured; two were shot and two received other injuries. Two law enforcement officers were shot, and a third was wounded by shrapnel.

In 2021, Patrolman Duarte received a hero award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his work in enforcing impaired driving in Colorado.

Patrolman Duarte had served with the West York Borough Police Department for over two years and previously served with the Denver Police Department for five years. He is survived by his mother and father.