A stalker slaughtered his ex-girlfriends black Labrador then killed three police officers after she reported him to cops for staking out her home in camo gear with binoculars.
Matthew James Ruth, 24, killed three Northern York County Regional Police Officers – Mark Baker, Cody Becker and Isaiah Emenheiser – Wednesday afternoon with an AR-15 style rifle. He died when officers returned gunfire.
The seeds of the bloodbath were sewn after after a man believed to be Ruth set his unnamed ex’s truck on fire on August 20.
She then set up a trail camera, and caught who she thought was Ruth wearing the same outfit, binoculars and the semi-automatic rifle slung around his neck.
After reporting the incident to police, five officers showed up at the woman’s home to serve a warrant for Ruth, but he was not immediately found.
Emenheiser then approached the front door, followed by his fellow officers, and was ‘repeatedly fired at’ by the alleged shooter.
Emenheiser, Baker and Becker were all shot before Ruth allegedly fired his weapon at an officer and a deputy sheriff.
Ruth was killed when responding officers returned fire. The surviving officer and the sheriff’s deputy remain hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
After the shootout, authorities found a black Labrador in the basement of the home that was allegedly shot dead by Ruth.
Five police officers were shot in York County Wednesday after Matthew James Ruth, 24, allegedly opened fire on them with an AR-15 style rifle
Northern York County Regional Police Officer Mark Baker was one of the three officers who died
Northern York County Regional Police Officer Isaiah Emenheiser
Ruth’s ex-girlfriend told officers they hadn’t dated for a long time and she had never invited him to her mother’s home, Barker said.
The DA said the deadly exchange lasted two minutes, and that the quick response from other law enforcement officers likely prevented further deaths.
As for the fallen officers, Barker referred to them as ‘credits to law enforcement.’
The incident sent shockwaves through the rural community on Wednesday as several 911 calls came in stating ‘officer down’ and ‘signal 13,’ which means an office is in trouble.
Meanwhile, heartbreaking Police scanner audio obtained by WGAL News 8 started with: ‘We have one suspect, class four.
‘Two officers, class four… correction, three officers, class four,’ it continued. Class four suggests a person has serious injuries that could lead to death.
‘One officer, class one,’ it added, referring to someone who sustained life-threatening injuries.
‘We’re going to be coming in with one of the officers shot. We were going to fly, but we’re just coming by ground now. We’re probably less than 15 minutes out… shot in the lower abdomen and left forearm.’
Ruth allegedly murdered the police officers at his ex-girlfriend’s home (pictured) during a two minute exchange
As the investigation continued Wednesday night, more than 30 police vehicles were seen blocking off roads bordered by a barn, a goat farm as well as soybean and corn fields
Ruth was charged earlier on Wednesday with stalking, loitering and prowling at nighttime and criminal trespass, court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail revealed.
As the investigation continued Wednesday night, more than 30 police vehicles were seen blocking off roads bordered by a barn, a goat farm as well as soybean and corn fields.
Strangely, the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia also said in a now-deleted post it was ‘monitoring the incident’ and that the ‘Mexican community is advised to follow official instructions.’
A spokesperson with the Mexican Consulate told the Daily Mail the agency posted as a ‘precautionary alert for our community.’
‘Whenever there is an incident that occurs within our jurisdiction, we send it out. We have no further information than what has appeared in the media. Therefore, we have no comments/statement at this time,’ they added.
The shooting had prompted schools in the Spring Grove School District and hospitals in York County to be temporarily placed on lockdown.
The school district noted that the officer-involved situation was not related to students or schools.
People are seen saluting as a York County sheriff vehicle drives past during a procession Wednesday night
In remarks Wednesday night, Governor Josh Shapiro denounced the violence as he argued ‘we can do better when it comes to mental health.’
‘We need to do better as a society,’ the governor told reporters, expressing his hope that something ‘constructive’ can come from the fallen officer’s memory.
‘We grieve for the loss of life of three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth, served this country,’ Shapiro said.
At least 30 shots were fired in the barrage, a witness told WGAL.
‘It was just continuous,’ Dave Miller said. ‘More than what I could count, but it was at least 30 shots and it went on for quite a while.’
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
