The York County district attorney (Pennsylvania) released more details about the ambush attack that killed three Northern York County Regional Police Department (NYCRPD) officers, Detective Sergeant Cody Becker, Detective Mark Baker, and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser, as they attempted to serve a warrant.

The three were fatally wounded on Sept. 17 while attempting to serve an arrest warrant for stalking, loitering and prowling at nighttime, and criminal trespass on 24-year-old Matthew Ruth.

Evidence from the scene suggested that Ruth fired on the officers from within the ex-girlfriend’s residence as the officers entered. A deputy sheriff from the York County Sheriff’s Department and an officer from the NYCRPD were also struck and sustained serious injury.

State police said that during an exchange of gunfire, Ruth was struck and fatally wounded.

The Troop J Major Case Team coordinated with the York County District Attorney’s Office and several county, state, and federal agencies to conduct a thorough investigation. The investigation remains active, and the Pennsylvania State Police will continue to assist the Northern York County Regional Police Department.

Events & Timeline Leading Up to Ambush

York County District Attorney Timothy J. Barker, during a Thursday afternoon press conference, provided the initial finding of fact in relation to the shooting. He has requested that the Pennsylvania State Police take over the lead in the investigation in full collaboration with detectives from his office.

Barker identified Ruth as the actor in this incident, noting that he would not mention the suspected shooter’s name again. For the remainder of the briefing, Barker simply referred to Ruth as the actor.

Sept. 15 Incident & Trail Camera Image

Laying out the timeline of events leading up to and including the killing of the three officers, Baker started with Sept. 15, the day before the shooting, at 11:23 p.m. That is when the mother of Ruth’s ex-girlfriend called authorities to say Ruth had been spotted on her property, with binoculars, looking through a window of the residence.

The mother reported that she had seen a white male wearing camouflage in images from a trail camera positioned to overlook the driveway. While officers were responding, the mother advised dispatchers that a black truck was parked around the corner from the residence on another nearby road.

Officers arrived and did not find the man near or around the home, but did locate a black 2000 Ford Ranger parked along the wood line nearby on the road the mother had reported.

Aug. 20: Ex-Girlfriend’s Truck Set on Fire

Police learned that Ruth’s ex-girlfriend said that on Aug. 20 someone had set her pickup truck on fire while it was parked in the driveway.

She said that at the time, she thought her ex-boyfriend was the culprit, but she wasn't sure, so she requested that the matter not be investigated further, the DA explained in the press conference.

“The ex-girlfriend then showed a still photo from the trail camera, and what it showed was a white male wearing an all-camo, camouflage outfit, standing behind the ex-girlfriend's truck in the driveway, and the male is looking through a scope device with it pointed towards the residence. The ex-girlfriend identified the male in the photo as the actor, and she advised that they put the trail camera up after the incident on August 20, 2025,” Baker explained. The ex-girlfriend confirmed that the actor was, in fact, her ex-boyfriend, and she suspected again that he was involved in the incident of setting her vehicle on fire.”

Baker said the ex-girlfriend also advised that the actor owned and often drove a 2000 Black Ford Ranger pickup truck. While reviewing the trail camera photo, the officers noticed that the actor had an AR-15 style rifle slung across his chest while looking into the residence.

Police officers spent several hours on Sept. 15 searching for the suspect and were aided by a drone deployed by the York County Sheriff’s Department. They could not locate him.

A warrant was sworn out for Ruth’s arrest, and Baker said the charges included stalking, loitering, and prowling at night.

Serving Warrant & Returning to Incident Location

The following day, at 12:11 p.m., detectives from the Northern York County Regional Police Department visited the suspect’s home and talked with his family.

Five detectives participated, including the three who were killed —  Becker, Baker, and Emenheiser. The officers concluded the search at the suspect’s home at 1:23 p.m.

At 2:02 p.m., five police detectives returned to the location of the previous night’s incident at the ex-girlfriend’s home. They were accompanied by a York County Sheriff’s Department deputy, who deployed the agency’s drone. The search for the suspect continued around the home, and the drone scanned neighboring fields.

Ambushed at Doorway

Barker continued and explained how detectives approached the door of the home at 2:08 p.m.

Emenheiser went to the door, and was followed by Baker and Becker, plus another detective. A fifth detective stayed back to keep a view on the perimeter.

“Detective Emenheiser discovered that the door was unlocked, having remembered that the door was left locked by the ex-girlfriend and mother, who were not at the residence because they had gone somewhere else for their safety. They decided that they were going to go in,” Barker said. “The door was open, and upon immediately opening the door, the actor repeatedly fired at the officers with multiple rounds from an AR-15 style rifle with a suppressor.”

The gunfire immediately struck Baker, Becker, and Emenheiser, and he and the other detective tried to move to a cover position.

“All four detectives went down,” Baker said.

“The actor then proceeded to turn his attention to the deputy sheriff. The deputy sheriff and the other northern New York County Regional detective began to position themselves to return fire,” said Baker. “The Northern New York County Regional detective repeatedly fired at the actor. The actor did strike the deputy sheriff, who was by his vehicle, and also struck the vehicle.”

Returning Fire at the Shooter

The deputy returned fire with a 9-mm handgun, while the police detective returned fire with a patrol rifle.

 “The actor repeatedly was firing his rifle at the deputy sheriff, striking him. The deputy sheriff went down and went to try to retrieve his rifle and go for safety as well, to take cover to return fire, the DA added.

Baker said the gunman went toward the road where the vehicles were parked to engage in fire with the deputy sheriff who was firing at him.

“While up at the roadway, when the actor was there, there was a final exchange of gunfire. After that exchange, the actor went down,” Baker continued

“The actor became deceased. Following this, the northern York County Regional detective immediately went to see about rendering aid. He immediately went down first to his fallen officers from Northern York County Regional Police Department by the house

and discovered the detectives were non-responsive. Detective Sergeant Cody Becker, Detective Mark Baker, and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser were all killed following the brutal ambush that was committed upon them by the actor. The final northern York County Regional detective was critically wounded,” Baker explained.

Gunfight Lasted 2 Minutes

Only about two minutes elapsed during the gunfire. Again, the detectives approached the door at 2:08 p.m., and the gunfire ended at 16 seconds after 2:10.

 “Numerous law enforcement agencies came to help secure the scene and help with any rescue efforts. And why I say numerous, I can't tell you how proud I am of every single law enforcement officer in this whole county. They all came from everywhere to be there to help in any way they could,” Baker said.