What began as a suspicious act of vandalism quickly spiraled into one of York County’s most devastating tragedies. Earlier in the month, a woman reported that her pickup truck had been deliberately set on fire. Though she suspected her ex-boyfriend, 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, investigators were still piecing together evidence to confirm his involvement.
That changed in the days that followed, when Ruth’s increasingly threatening behavior became undeniable.On Tuesday night, September 16, the woman spotted Ruth once again near her property—this time armed with a rifle and watching her home.
Alarmed, she contacted authorities immediately. By the time officers arrived, Ruth had slipped away, but the encounter heightened fears that he was preparing for violence. Police began monitoring the area and coordinated a plan to arrest him.The next morning, September 17, officers returned to the property in North Codorus Township to serve a warrant. What they didn’t know was that Ruth had prepared an ambush.
Dressed in camouflage and concealed in a nearby cornfield, he waited for police to approach the house before opening fire with an AR-15 style rifle.The sudden barrage of gunfire left three detectives—Sgt. Cody Becker, Detective Isaiah Emenheiser, and Detective Mark Baker—fatally wounded. Two additional officers were critically injured before police returned fire, killing Ruth at the scene.
The violence has shaken the community, leaving behind grief, shock, and difficult questions about the warning signs leading up to the attack. Vigils are being planned to honor the fallen officers, whose sacrifice underscores the dangers law enforcement face in protecting their communities.As investigations continue, York County mourns the irreplaceable loss of three dedicated public servants. Our deepest condolences go to their families, the wounded officers, and all those touched by this heartbreaking tragedy.
