On February 22nd, 2025 the catastrophic events at UPMC in York led to one death and many traumatized or injured. After an angered husband entered the hospital, he made his way to the ICU where his wife lay an untreatable illness. The offender felt that there was more that could have been done to treat his wife. Because he felt that the nurses and doctors were not doing their job, the offender decided to hold these caretakers at gunpoint. Throughout all of the chaos, the offender held a nurse hostage, and during a shootout with a police officer, killed 30 year old Andrew Duarte. Eventually another police officer brought the offender to his death by shooting him.
This event has affected thousands of people. Whether its first hand witnesses, or family members of ones that were lost or injured from this event, the effect does not stop there. The citizens of York are unsettled, and on edge from the dangers that happened only a few miles away from their homes. The citizens all around York are also on edge that they could have had family members at the hospital at the time of the shooting. There are many family members of first responders that could’ve been affected. Along with the unsettled citizens are the mourning family and friends of police officer Andrew Duarte. On Friday Feb. 28th the community came together to remember the short but blessed life of Andrew.
Hospitals are ensuring better security after the events on Feb. 22nd. Dan Yaross, the president of the International Association for Healthcare Security, “The UPMC Memorial tragedy is certainly prompting conversations about ways to protect patients, staff and visitors.” Hospitals across York and many other cities are adding at least metal detectors at their doorways. The ennicitive that health care security is showing is making citizens of York feel safer.
