YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A man who allegedly shot five police officers, killing three of them, was spotted the day prior stalking the home where the shooting took place, documents say.
Matthew Ruth, 24, of Hanover, was allegedly seen Tuesday looking into a North Codorus Township home in the 1800 block of Haar Road, according to court documents.
Citing a law enforcement official, the Associated Press reported that Ruth was the suspected shooter in Wednesday’s incident.
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Around 11:23 p.m. Tuesday, Northern York Regional Police officers were called to the Haar Road home after someone reported a man was on her property, looking into her residence with binoculars. The caller said she’d seen the person, a white male wearing camouflage, on her trail camera.
Officers searched the area but didn’t find the male, documents said.
According to court documents, officers spoke with the caller’s daughter at the home, who said she’d called police Sept.11 to report that someone set her pickup truck on fire while it was in her driveway on Aug. 20. She told officers she’d suspected it was her ex-boyfriend but wasn’t sure.
Police on Tuesday showed the daughter the photo of the man taken on the trail camera, and the daughter was able to identify him as her ex-boyfriend, Matthew Ruth, documents say.
Ruth was seen in the trail camera photo with an AR-15 rifle slung across his chest while looking into the home, police said.
Officers said they tried to find him for several hours but couldn’t, after which they filed for a warrant.
CNN reported Wednesday that the suspect responsible for shooting the police officers had also been wearing camouflage.
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The emergency response unfolded after 2 p.m. Wednesday, during which around 30 police vehicles blocked off roads bordered by a barn, a goat farm and soybean and corn fields.
Dirk Anderson heard “quite a few” shots from his home across the street from the shooting, he said. He also saw a helicopter and police arrive.
CBS 21 went out to the neighborhood Ruth lived and spoke with the president of the homeowner’s association, who said she believes Ruth lived with his parents.
She also stated federal officials and tactical teams came to Ruth’s home with guns drawn Wednesday night—a sight that shocked the small community, neighbors said.
Video obtained from one of the neighbors shows officers and a forensic unit at Ruth’s home that night.
Authorities have not yet identified the officers who were killed.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the case and are expected to release more information around 3 p.m. Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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