YORK COUNTY, Pa. — A tragic sequence unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital in West Manchester Township when Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, who had a previous history of legal violations including harassment, instigated a deadly standoff that resulted in multiple injuries and his own death by police gunfire. The attack, which occurred last Saturday, left one officer dead and several others wounded.
Archangel-Ortiz, formerly under a Protection from Abuse order (PFA) that mandated the relinquishment of his weapons, was able to legally retrieve his firearms after the order expired in 2019. Criminal attorney Steve Breit explained, “Once the designated period of a PFA expires, individuals have the right to reclaim any firearms held by law enforcement.”
Documents reveal Archangel-Ortiz’s prior guilt in a harassment case involving a violent encounter with a petitioner, whom he assaulted with a wine glass. Despite these confrontations, the reasons behind his recent violent spree at the hospital are still being investigated.
Adding to his known interactions with law enforcement, Archangel-Ortiz was stopped on Feb. 13 by a West York officer due to driving with a suspended license, for which he was cited. Following the incident, attempts to contact him at his registered addresses were unsuccessful.
The York County District Attorney, Tim Barker, indicated that Archangel-Ortiz had recently visited the hospital’s ICU for reasons associated with another person’s medical condition. A hospital physician assistant reported that Archangel-Ortiz was informed of a loved one’s death just days before the attack, which might have contributed to his distressed state during the incident.
During the assault, Archangel-Ortiz shot a nurse and a custodian while a doctor suffered a minor injury from a bullet graze. The situation escalated when police intervened as he held a hospital employee hostage at gunpoint. The ensuing exchange of gunfire fatally wounded Officer Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department. Additionally, a Springettsbury Township and a Northern York County Regional officer were injured, both anticipated to make full recoveries.
The community and law enforcement agencies are now grappling with the repercussions of this violent act and seeking to understand the motivations that drove Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz to such desperation. In the wake of this tragedy, discussions regarding security measures in public institutions and the efficient enforcement of legal protections involving firearm possession are expected to intensify.
The incident has emphasized the need for vigilant enforcement of PFA requirements and the potential risks involved with the reinstatement of firearm rights post-PFA. This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the devastating impact of domestic issues when combined with access to firearms. Authorities continue their investigation aiming to piece together the sequence of events leading to this fatal confrontation and to propose measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.