York County man named in ambush that killed 3 officers during stalking warrant

A 24-year-old Hanover resident, Matthew James Ruth, has been identified by law-enforcement sources as the gunman who opened fire on officers in North Codorus Township on Wednesday, killing three and wounding two before he was shot dead by police.

Investigators say the encounter grew out of a domestic-related case that began the night before. According to a probable-cause affidavit, a 911 caller reported a man in camouflage peering into a home with binoculars; trail-cam images appeared to show him with an AR-15-style rifle slung across his chest. Officers later found Ruth’s black pickup, but not Ruth.

By Wednesday morning, prosecutors had filed counts of stalking, prowling at night, and criminal trespass. When officers returned to the same address around 2:10 p.m. to follow up, they were met with heavy gunfire. The two injured officers were listed critical but stable at WellSpan York Hospital as of Thursday. Authorities have not yet released the names of the fallen or their agencies.

Neighbors described a chaotic response—dozens of cruisers, roads sealed off by farm fields, and medevac helicopters thundering overhead. Later, residents lined the streets for a somber procession to the coroner’s office, while flowers accumulated outside Northern York County Regional Police headquarters.

Court records and police reports outline a troubled lead-up: Ruth’s former girlfriend told officers on Sept. 11 about an Aug. 20 fire that destroyed her pickup; she suspected Ruth but wasn’t sure. A law-enforcement official confirmed Ruth as the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting, speaking anonymously because the investigation is ongoing.

“This kind of violence isn’t OK. We need to do better as a society,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said, urging more help for people who view violence as the answer to disputes.

Officials called it one of Pennsylvania’s deadliest days for law enforcement in recent memory, matching a 2009 ambush that also claimed three officers’ lives. Detectives continue to process the scene and gather witness statements; more details about the domestic-violence probe that brought officers to the property are expected as the case file is unsealed.

With input from New York Post, the Washington Post, and AP.