NORTH CODORUS TOWNSHIP, Pa — Authorities have officially identified the suspect in Wednesday’s devastating York County shooting that left three police officers dead, two others critically injured, and an entire community shaken.
According to newly released court documents and statements from investigators, the gunman has been identified as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, a North Codorus Township man with a troubling history of stalking and violent behavior.
The deadly ambush unfolded around 2:10 p.m. on September 17, 2025, as officers arrived at 1879 Harr Road to serve a warrant on Ruth following an earlier stalking investigation. Within moments, gunfire erupted, marking one of the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in Pennsylvania in recent memory.
Details Leading to the Shooting
Court records reveal that just one day before the ambush, officers were called to a nearby farm property after a woman reported seeing a man dressed in camouflage and using binoculars to peer into her home.
Trail camera images later showed the individual — armed with what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle — standing behind a vehicle and aiming a scope-like device toward the residence. The man was identified as Ruth, the ex-boyfriend of the woman’s daughter.
The daughter told investigators that her relationship with Ruth had been brief and that she had never invited him to her home. She also disclosed that her vehicle had previously been set on fire in her driveway weeks earlier, which she suspected Ruth was behind.
Based on the evidence, police filed for an arrest warrant charging Ruth with stalking, trespassing, loitering, and prowling at night. That warrant set the stage for Wednesday’s fateful operation.
The Deadly Confrontation
When York County deputies, Northern York Regional Police officers, and Pennsylvania State Police attempted to serve the warrant, Ruth allegedly opened fire from inside the property.
- Three officers were killed in the barrage of gunfire.
- Two others remain in critical condition at WellSpan York Hospital, which enacted heightened security protocols as the wounded were rushed in.
- Medevac helicopters were dispatched to transport critically injured officers to trauma centers.
Authorities later confirmed that Ruth died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the shootout.
Community in Shock
The Spring Grove School District went into lockdown during the chaos, though officials stressed that no students or staff were directly involved. The Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia also issued a statement monitoring the incident closely, citing the large community of migrant farm workers in the surrounding area.
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis called for unity and prayers, writing:
“Please keep the fallen officers, the wounded, and their families in your thoughts during this heartbreaking time.”
Meanwhile, residents of the rural farming community described their shock as the quiet agricultural road transformed into a massive crime scene lined with emergency vehicles, roadblocks, and investigators.
A Dark Chapter for York County
This tragedy comes just months after another high-profile shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in February 2025. For many, Wednesday’s events underscore the growing risks faced by law enforcement officers across Pennsylvania.
The York County Office of Emergency Management confirmed that the investigation remains active, with multiple agencies still piecing together Ruth’s actions in the days leading up to the ambush.
For now, York County is left mourning three fallen officers, supporting two more who remain in critical condition, and grappling with the haunting details of a suspect identified as a young man whose violent fixation spiraled into tragedy.
Leave a Reply