A deadly ambush in rural York County, Pennsylvania, has left three police officers dead and two others wounded after 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth opened fire on law enforcement entering his stalking victim’s home.
Authorities said Ruth had been under investigation for stalking and trespassing after being caught lurking near his ex-girlfriend’s property with an AR-15 rifle and binoculars just a day before the attack. When officers returned to the residence to serve a warrant, they found the front door unlocked. The moment they entered, Ruth unleashed a barrage of gunfire with a suppressed AR-15, striking multiple officers in what officials have described as a “premeditated ambush.”
Tragically, the house itself was empty of people. Investigators discovered only the victim’s black Labrador retriever, already shot dead. Police believe Ruth killed the dog before lying in wait for responding officers.
The gunman was later killed in a subsequent exchange of fire with law enforcement. Officials said his actions marked one of the darkest days in Pennsylvania policing history, underscoring the lethal risks officers face in responding to calls involving domestic violence or stalking.
The loss of three officers in a single incident has shaken the law enforcement community statewide, sparking an outpouring of grief and support for the fallen officers’ families. Authorities vow to honor their service while continuing to highlight the dangers posed by heavily armed suspects determined to carry out violence.