Officer Andrew William Duarte - West York Borough Police Department - Pennsylvania
On February 22, 2025, Officer Andrew Duarte was shot and killed while responding to reports of an active shooter at the UPMC Memorial Hospital on Innovation Drive and Roosevelt Avenue in York at 10:43 a.m.
A subject entered the UPMC Memorial Hospital ICU and started firing before taking employees hostage. When officers arrived at the scene, the subject shot at officers and ordered them to retreat. Despite efforts to talk to the shooter, he refused to engage. When he emerged from the ICU, he was holding a female hostage, whose hands were bound with zip ties, at gunpoint. A firefight ensued, and Officer Duarte was struck. The shooter was shot and killed.
Two other law enforcement officers and three hospital staff members were also shot and are in stable condition.
A subject entered the UPMC Memorial Hospital ICU and started firing before taking employees hostage. When officers arrived at the scene, the subject shot at officers and ordered them to retreat. Despite efforts to talk to the shooter, he refused to engage. When he emerged from the ICU, he was holding a female hostage, whose hands were bound with zip ties, at gunpoint. A firefight ensued, and Officer Duarte was struck. The shooter was shot and killed.
Two other law enforcement officers and three hospital staff members were also shot and are in stable condition.
Officer Andrew Duarte's last moments were selfless, kind and heroic: Andrew was shot, and he knew he was shot. He verbalized it and said as much. Andrew had made it to cover, but once there, saw a downed officer still in a compromised position. Andrew's last physical action on this earth was to run back towards the threat area and he dragged a downed officer to safety while holding his hand. When they made it to cover, Andrew collapsed and died. He had run towards the threat. He was part of a team that helped save the hostage and numerous other people, and as he was dying, he held the hand of a brother officer, who he had helped drag to cover. He put the mission first.
In 2021, Patrolman Duarte received a hero award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his work in enforcing impaired driving in Colorado.
Officer Duarte had served with the West York Borough Police Department for over two years and previously served with the Denver Police Department for five years. He is survived by his mother.
Officer Duarte had served with the West York Borough Police Department for over two years and previously served with the Denver Police Department for five years. He is survived by his mother.
As part of our "Plaques for Heroes" campaign, an engraved slate memorial plaque was sent to the West York Borough Police Department and to Duarte's family at no cost to honor his service and his sacrifice to the community of West York Borough.
