Five police officers were shot and three were killed in a shooting in southern Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
The gunman was killed, local police confirmed, and two officers were in hospital in a critical but stable condition.
Officers were initially deployed to the location to follow up on a “domestic-related” investigation that began on Tuesday, a police spokesman said.
A spokesman said they were dealing with a “very large” crime scene that forensic teams were mapping for evidence.
The suspect who killed three officers “was shot by police”, a spokesman said.
Schools in the area were briefly put on lockdown and Josh Shapiro, the state’s governor, rushed to the scene in North Codorus, York county.
Mr Shapiro said his state is grieving the “precious souls” killed.
“We grieve for the loss of life for three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth and served this country, and we continue to pray for the full recovery of those who are dealing with their wounds,” Mr Shapiro told a press conference on Wednesday night.
Police at the scene of the shooting in North Codorus, Pennsylvania – Matt Slocum/AP
York Hospital, where the injured officers were being treated, said it implemented enhanced security protocols.
The shooting happened as the nation remains on red alert following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia said it was “monitoring the incident”, which took place in an area with a large population of immigrant farmers.
The consulate advised Mexican residents nearby to follow official instructions, in a post on social media.
South-central Pennsylvania is an apple-growing region that attracts migrant farm workers, many of them from Mexico.
Kash Patel, the FBI director, said that agents from the bureau were dispatched to the scene to assist local law enforcement.
“Our prayers are with the officers, their families, and the entire York County community,” Mr Patel wrote on X.
Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, said: “Violence against law enforcement is a scourge on our society and never acceptable. Pray for the officers involved.”
Earlier in the day, Lieutenant governor Austin Davis advised the public to stay away from the area, adding: “Please send prayers to the officers and those involved in the shooting in York County.”
Law enforcement responded to the scene shortly after 2pm local time (7pm UK), with two officers reportedly taken to hospital and several others lifted away in a Medevac helicopter.
Emergency calls included reports of an “officer down” and “signal 13”, which signifies a member of law enforcement is in danger.
North Codorus Fire Service confirmed they had responded and set up a landing zone in the area and helped with shutting down the road.
Police cordon off a rural road near the scene of the shooting – Mark Scolforo/AP
The incident unfolded on a rural road that winds through an agricultural area with a red barn and fields.
Spring Grove Area School District issued a shelter-in-place order which it lifted shortly after 4pm ET, saying it had been given the “all clear” by law enforcement.
Kirk’s shooting at Utah Valley University last week sent shockwaves through America, triggering a wave of anxiety about a rising tide of political violence.
The prominent conservative activist was shot in the neck while hosting one of his popular “prove me wrong” events, where he debated students on hot-button issues.
Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, has been charged with aggravated murder.
Mr Shapiro clashed with Donald Trump, calling for calm as the president cast blame on the “radical Left”.
“What we’re seeing now from the president of the United States and some of his allies, is by cherry-picking certain violence that is okay and certain violence that is not okay, that is making everyone less safe and it’s raising the temperatures instead of lowering the temperatures,” Mr Shapiro said on Tuesday.
“What we need right now is calm.”
That’s all for today
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Police responded to a domestic incident
Police officers responded to a domestic incident when the gunman opened fire, a police spokesman said.
A police spokesman told the press briefing that officers were following up on a “domestic-related” incident when the tragic shooting took place, leaving three dead and two in a critical condition.
The spokesman added that they were dealing with a “very large” that forensic teams were continuing to map for evidence.
Suspect shot dead by police
The suspect in the Pennsylvania shooting was shot dead by police, a spokesman said.
Answering questions at this evening’s press briefing, an officer confirmed: “He was shot by police.”
It comes after previous reports had claimed that the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Governor calls for mental health support to prevent gun crime
Josh Shapiro issued a call for greater mental health support in order to prevent gun crime.
In an impassioned plea, he urged Pennsylvanians to avoid piking up arms to resolve disputes and encouraged his constitutents to “do better” to look out for each other.
“We need to help the people picking up a weapon is the answer to resolving disputes,” he said. “[We need to] do better when it comes to mental health. We need to do better when it comes to looking out for those who are [so] we don’t have to deal with tragedies like this. We got to do better as a society.”
Governor thanks Pam Bondi for support
Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor, thanked the Trump administration for its support.
In a display of gratitude, Mr Shapiro extended his thanks to Pam Bondi, the attorney general, for offering her help with the investigation.
“I want to let you know that Attorney General Pam Bondi reached out directly to me and shared with me that we have the full support of the federal government,” he said.
“We so appreciate law enforcement at every level, and we, of course, appreciate our federal partners.”
Pennsylvania grieves ‘precious souls’, says Governor
Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor, said his state is grieving the “precious souls” killed in today’s shooting.
“We grieve for the loss of life for three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth and served this country, and we continue to pray for the full recovery of those who are dealing with their wounds.”
‘No words can ease the grief,’ says police spokesman
A police spokesman has said there are “no words” to ease the grief for the families of the three officers who have been killed.
Speaking at the press briefing, the officer said: “Our hearts and prayers go out to them, to the families of the deceased and the families of those officers who were wounded. T
“There are simply no words that I can offer to assuage the grief that this community has experienced and unfortunately, will continue to experience.
“The grief will be unbearable, but we will bear it.”
Gunman dead
The gunman who killed three police officers in Pennsylvania, police confirmed.
A York Police spokesman told the briefing: “We would like to advise the community that there is no current active threat. The situation today involved law enforcement officers who were shot. I can confirm that the shooter is dead.”
Three police officers dead
Three police officers have ben killed, police confirmed.
A spokesman for York County police department told the press conference that five people had been shot in total, with three dead and two left in a “critical but stable condition” in hospital.
Governor Shapiro is about to speak
A press conference on today’s shooting has just begun,
Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor, is about to speak.
Pam Bondi condemns violence against police
Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, condemned violence against police, saying it is “never acceptable.
FBI agents on the scene
FBI agents are on the scene, the bureau’s chief confirmed.
Kash Patel wrote on X that agents are assisting local and state law enforcement
Pennsylvania congressman offers condolences
Lieutenant governor issues prayers to those affected
Five officers shot, reports suggest
Five police officers have been shot with three in a grave condition, officials told NBC News.
Tom Winter, a presenter for the network, wrote on X that the shooting took place after officers attempted to serve someone with a warrant.
He added that the suspect allegedly shot himself following the attack.
Mexican consulate monitoring incident
The Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia said it is “monitoring the incident”, which took place in an area with a large population of immigrant farmers.
The consulate advised Mexican residents nearby to follow official instructions, in a post on social media.
South-central Pennsylvania is an apple-growing region that attracts migrant farm workers, many of them from Mexico.
The response to the officers’ injuries unfolded on a rural road that winds through an agricultural area in York County, close to a red barn and farm fields.
Local schools given ‘all clear’ by police
The local school district has been given the “all clear” by authorities following the shooting in rural Pennsylvania.
Spring Grove Area School District released a statement at 4.10pm EDT saying: “We have been given the ‘all clear’ from law enforcement, and the shelter in place has ended.
“We will begin releasing secondary students grades 7-12 as early as 4.15pm. Elementary students to follow.”
The statement reiterated that neither the shooting incident did not involve the schools or students.
Shapiro called for calm following Kirk shooting
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro has clashed with Donald Trump in recent days, calling for “calm” in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s shooting.
Mr Shapiro, who has issued a statement saying his is en route to York County, has urged Republicans to dial down the temperature.
“What we’re seeing now from the president of the United States and some of his allies, is by cherry-picking certain violence that is okay and certain violence that is not okay, that is making everyone less safe and it’s raising the temperatures instead of lowering the temperatures,” Mr Shapiro said on Tuesday. “What we need right now is calm.”
The latest shooting incident comes amid grave concern about a rising tide of political violence following Kirk’s killing.
Schools on lockdown
A local school district issued a shelter-in-place order, though it said schools and students were not involved in the shooting.
The district said in a statement that authorities “advised us to hold students and staff in our buildings as a precaution while several area roads are closed.”
The response to the officers’ injuries unfolded on a rural road that winds through an agricultural area with a red barn and farm fields.
Shooting comes amid high tension
The shooting comes as the nation is in a state of high alert after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, an influential conservative activist, who was shot dead while giving a talk at Utah Valley University.
Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of carrying out the attack.
Kirk was shot while hosting one of his popular “prove me wrong” events, where he debates students on hot-button issues, as part of his Turning Point USA American Comeback Tour.
The killing has sent shockwaves through American society, triggering a wave of anxiety about a rising tide of political violence.
There was another shooting at a school in Colorado last week in which a 16-year-old assailant fired off around 20 rounds, injuring two fellow students.
Hospital and schools on lockdown
A hospital and multiple schools are on lockdown in York County following the incident.
Spring Grove School District said in a statement that all district schools from kindergarten up to grade 12 were sheltering in place.
“Local authorities have advised us to hold students and staff in our buildings as a precaution while several area roads are closed. There will be major delays in bus transportation for all students,” a spokesperson said.
A local hospital is also closed down temporarily, according to local network CBS 21.
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We’re bringing you the latest updates after a shooting in Pennsylvania where multiple police officers were injured.
