Three police officers were killed and two others critically injured in a shooting in the US state of Pennsylvania, while following up on a domestic-related investigation, authorities have confirmed.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris stated that the gunman was fatally shot by the police.
The incident occurred shortly after 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT). Visuals from the scene showed an officer being airlifted via a medical helicopter.
This tragic event caused nearby schools in Spring Grove, a small town with roughly 2,500 residents, to implement a brief shelter-in-place order, although officials later assured that the school was not directly affected.
Authorities clarified that there was no active threat to the public. The shooting took place in a rural area of York County, North Codorus Township, about 100 miles east of Philadelphia.
The officers were at the scene investigating a matter that had begun the previous day.
Details about the investigation remain scarce, as police have indicated that it is ongoing, according to Commissioner Paris.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro arrived at the scene on Wednesday afternoon to meet with the families of the fallen officers. We grieve for the loss of life of three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth, served this country, he remarked, adding, This kind of violence is not OK, we need to do better as a society. Governor Shapiro also ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-mast in honor of the slain officers.
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned that agents were on the ground assisting local and state authorities during this tragic incident, expressing his condolences: Our prayers are with the officers, their families, and the entire York County community.
