NORTH CODORUS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Authorities have officially identified the suspect in Wednesday’s deadly York County police shooting as 24-year-old Matthew J. Ruth, who died from a gunshot wound after opening fire on officers attempting to serve a warrant at a rural property.

The tragedy, described as one of the most devastating incidents in the region’s law enforcement history, left three police officers dead and two others critically wounded.

During a Thursday press conference, York County District Attorney Tim Barker confirmed the identity of the gunman but emphasized that after stating his name once, he would only refer to him as “the actor,” in order to keep the focus on the fallen officers and their families.

The Northern York County Regional Police Department (NYCRPD) identified the three officers killed in the line of duty as:

• Detective Sergeant Cody Becker
• Detective Isaiah Emenheiser
• Detective Mark Baker

A fourth NYCRPD officer was among the two critically wounded. In a public statement, the department said:

“We ask our community to keep these officers, their families, and their colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during this time of unimaginable grief.”

Detective Mark Baker, a former Philadelphia Police Highway Patrol officer, began his career with the Philadelphia Police Department’s 25th District in 2001.

He served there until 2004 before joining NYCRPD, where he continued his service until his tragic death on Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement officials have had to combat a wave of misinformation on social media, where photographs of an unrelated man from Hanover, Pennsylvania — also named “Matt Ruth” — were widely shared, falsely identifying him as the deceased gunman.

The individual, who is alive and not connected to the case, publicly clarified on his own social media accounts:

“I am not 24, and I am still alive. Stop posting my pictures.”

Despite his clarifications, images of him circulated widely, including being shared by prominent platforms such as Occupy Democrats, whose post received more than 71,000 shares within 12 hours. Other outlets, including Economic Times, also published his images, which remain visible in search results.

The man later expressed gratitude for those who reached out in support, calling the situation “outrageous” but saying it was “nice having people reach out.”

Officials have strongly urged the public to rely solely on verified information from law enforcement and credible news sources to prevent further harm.

Court documents reveal disturbing details of Ruth’s behavior in the days leading up to the deadly confrontation.

According to an affidavit of probable cause:

On September 16, a woman reported a man in camouflage on her property with binoculars, appearing to look into her residence. Trail camera footage confirmed the presence of a man in her driveway.

Responding officers located a black 2000 Ford Ranger pickup truck near the woods, which the woman believed was connected to the suspect.

The woman and her daughter further disclosed that on August 20, the daughter’s vehicle had been set on fire in their driveway.

She suspected her ex-boyfriend, Matthew Ruth, but initially declined to pursue charges.

Trail camera images later showed a man in full camouflage, standing behind the daughter’s truck and aiming a scoped device toward the residence. The daughter identified him as Ruth, with whom she had a brief relationship.

Investigators noted that the man in the footage also carried an AR-15 style rifle slung across his chest.

Despite an extensive search, officers were unable to locate Ruth that day. Based on the evidence, a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of stalking, loitering and prowling at night, and criminal trespass.

On September 17, 2025, at approximately 2:10 p.m., officers from multiple agencies attempted to serve the warrant at 1879 Haar Road in North Codorus Township. Ruth opened fire almost immediately, striking at least five officers.

Three officers were killed at the scene, while two others were airlifted in critical condition.

Multiple medevac helicopters were dispatched to transport the wounded to regional trauma centers, including WellSpan York Hospital, which later confirmed it was treating several patients and had activated heightened security protocols.

Ruth was later shot and killed by law enforcement at the scene.

Authorities from the Pennsylvania State Police and the York County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the incident, examining Ruth’s actions in the days prior to the shooting and the broader circumstances surrounding the attack.

The devastating events have sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community and the wider York County region, leaving officers, families, and residents grieving an almost unprecedented loss.