Matthew James Ruth

Mass Murderer

Matthew James Ruth and the 2025 North Codorus Township Police Ambush

Overview of the Mass Shooting

Matthew James Ruth was a 24-year-old Pennsylvania man identified by authorities as the gunman who killed three police detectives and seriously wounded two other law-enforcement officers in North Codorus Township on September 17, 2025. The attack occurred at a rural farmhouse on Haar Road near Spring Grove in York County, Pennsylvania, where officers were attempting to locate and arrest Ruth during a domestic-violence-related stalking investigation. Authorities said Ruth concealed himself inside the home of a former girlfriend and opened fire when detectives entered the residence. Armed with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a suppressor, Ruth fired numerous rounds at the officers gathered near the doorway. Detective Sergeant Cody Becker, Detective Mark Baker and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser were killed. A fourth Northern York County Regional Police Department detective was seriously wounded, and a York County sheriff's deputy was shot during the gunfight that followed. Ruth eventually emerged from the house and continued exchanging gunfire with officers outside. He was fatally shot near the roadway by the wounded sheriff's deputy and another Northern York County Regional officer. The confrontation ended approximately 15 hours after Ruth had first been photographed prowling around the property with a rifle.

Events Leading to the Attack

The investigation began during the late-night hours of September 16, 2025, when Ruth's former girlfriend and her mother contacted police. A trail camera installed near their farmhouse had captured images of a man wearing camouflage and carrying what appeared to be an AR-style rifle. The man was reportedly using binoculars or a scope-like device to peer toward the residence. The former girlfriend identified the man as Ruth, whom she had dated for only a short period. She told investigators that Ruth had never been invited to the rural property. Officers responded at approximately 11:30 p.m. but were unable to find him. During their search, police discovered a black 2000 Ford Ranger parked near a wooded area along the road. The women left the residence because they feared Ruth might return. Before departing, they reportedly locked the house. Officers later searched Ruth's residence in the Hanover area and spoke with members of his family, but Ruth was not there. The former girlfriend also told police that she suspected Ruth of setting her pickup truck on fire while it was parked in the farmhouse driveway on August 20, 2025. She had initially asked police not to pursue an investigation. A fire investigator subsequently examined the incident and determined that the blaze had been intentionally set. Based on the reported stalking, nighttime prowling and unauthorized presence on the property, Ruth was charged with misdemeanor stalking, loitering and prowling at night, and criminal trespass. A warrant was issued for his arrest during the morning of September 17.

Ruth's Entry into the Farmhouse

Police returned to the property on September 17 with a larger group of officers. Six officers searched the surrounding farmland, buildings and wooded areas, using a drone to examine places where Ruth might have been hiding. During the search, they noticed that the farmhouse door was unlocked, even though the occupants said they had secured it before leaving. Investigators concluded that Ruth had entered the residence and remained concealed inside. Authorities also reported that the family's black Labrador had been shot and killed after Ruth entered the home. York County District Attorney Timothy Barker said the available evidence suggested that Ruth had carefully watched the house and surrounding buildings before the confrontation. Although the officers were coming to arrest Ruth, investigators believed he may originally have been waiting to attack his former girlfriend. Because she and her mother had already fled, the detectives entered the house instead and became the targets of the ambush. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Cody Becker 39 yr old Male

He was identified as 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth