Daijiworld Media Network - Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, Sep 18: In a tragic incident in southern Pennsylvania, three police officers were killed and two others critically injured after gunfire erupted during a domestic-related investigation on Wednesday. The suspect was later shot dead by police.

The shooting occurred in North Codorus Township, about 185 km west of Philadelphia, near the Maryland border. Authorities said the officers were following up on a case that began the previous day when the suspect opened fire.

Governor Josh Shapiro expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “We grieve for the loss of life of three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth, served this country. This kind of violence is not OK; we need to do better as a society,” he said.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris, while addressing the media, vowed justice. “The grief will be unbearable but we will bear it. We will not rest until we conduct a full, fair and competent investigation into this matter,” he affirmed.

York Hospital confirmed it was treating two people in serious condition, adding that security protocols had been tightened. Authorities, however, have not disclosed the names of the slain officers, the injured, or details of the suspect.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi described the incident as “a scourge on our society”, while Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Austin Davis urged citizens to “send prayers to the officers and those involved in the shooting.”

A local school district imposed a temporary shelter-in-place order as a precaution, though it clarified that no students or staff were involved. The order was lifted later in the afternoon.

The rural community witnessed a massive police presence, with nearly 30 law enforcement vehicles sealing off the crime scene, which stretched across farmland dotted with barns, goat farms, and cornfields.

The tragedy comes months after another officer was killed in February during a hospital hostage situation in Pennsylvania.