A police officer hailed as a hero during a hostage situation in Pennsylvania tragically lost his life due to friendly fire, authorities confirmed.
The shotgun blast that claimed the life of 30-year-old Officer Andrew Duarte also fatally wounded 49-year-old Archangel Ortiz, the gunman who had taken a hospital worker hostage and made brutal threats.
While Ortiz didn’t shoot the woman he took hostage, he did injure a doctor, a nurse, an administrator, and two officers leading up to the police intervention, according to York County District Attorney Tim Barker.
Barker spoke about the attacker, who arrived at UPMC Memorial Hospital on February 22 armed with a 9mm Taurus handgun and other items, driven by a desire for revenge.
Interestingly, Barker opted not to use the term “friendly fire,” arguing it doesn’t convey the gravity of the situation.
New insights emerged recently as Barker discussed the two-month investigation into the hostage crisis. The unsettling situation began when Ortiz arrived at the hospital via Uber after a shopping trip to Walmart, where he purchased zip ties, a knife, spray paint, and a drink.
Initially, Ortiz pretended to be there to discuss his girlfriend’s death before he began taking hostages, Barker recounted.
At 10:51 a.m., Officer Duarte and his partner responded to the scene.
During the standoff, Ortiz told the staff, “It’s 11:02. You have until 11:25 or until I have the body,” Barker reported.
In a tense moment, the suspect spoke to his brother, saying, “Tell everyone I love them. This is what I want. This is how I get out.”
Barker noted that Ortiz pointed his gun at his own head while pushing the hostage through the ICU door. Police strategized to find a clear opportunity to act rather than allowing the hostage situation to prolong.
In a critical moment, officers fired a shotgun blast at Ortiz. However, two pellets struck Duarte, who stood behind another officer with a protective shield.
One pellet hit him beneath his protective vest, while the other struck the mesh lining. Police then opened fire, hitting Ortiz multiple times.
During the press briefing, an emotional Barker lamented the senselessness of the attack, commending the officers’ selfless bravery. “These heroes exemplified sacrificial love for everyone they serve,” he stated.
Barker concluded that the hostages had remained unharmed throughout the ordeal.
Duarte was previously a Hero Award recipient from MADD in Colorado, recognized for his dedication to preventing drunk driving. Barker mentioned that had Ortiz survived, he would have faced charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
Even though Ortiz didn’t directly shoot Duarte, Barker insisted his actions indirectly caused the officer’s death.
Duarte’s parents, Nancy and David Matarese, have decided not to pursue legal action over their son’s death, agreeing with Barker that the blame lies solely on Ortiz. “He came with evil intentions,” his mother expressed.
In an emotional video, she mourned Andrew and shared his diary, revealing how he envisioned himself. “I’m a warrior,” she read aloud from his notes. “I’m part of the team. I’ll never quit!”
