Sheriff speaks out as violence in York County mirrors Pittsburgh shooting that left 3 officers dead

PITTSBURGH — The ambush in the rural area of North Codorus Township in York County is one of the deadliest police shootings in the state since three Pittsburgh police officers were killed while responding to a domestic situation in 2009.

Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus was one of the officers there that day.

He said this week’s tragedy has him at a loss for words.

“Horrendous. Heartbreaking. Unthinkable,” Kraus said.

Kraus spoke out today in the wake of the shooting, calling domestic incidents some of the most volatile and dangerous situations law enforcement faces.

Yesterday in York, a 24-year-old man accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend opened fire as officers tried to serve a warrant. Three police officers were killed, two others were wounded and the suspect was later shot and killed by police.

“It’s just not a case of, ‘Okay, we have a warrant, let’s go break the door down.’ That’s not what we do. We understand the inherent risks of every door we go through, because we don’t know what’s on the other side,” Kraus said.

The loss in York echoes a dark day in Pittsburgh history.

On April 4, 2009, three Pittsburgh police officers were shot and killed and two others were wounded while responding to a domestic call in the city’s Stanton Heights neighborhood. It started as an argument between a mother and son.

Officers Paul Sciullo and Stephen Mayhle were ambushed at the front door. Officer Eric Kelly was shot and killed when he arrived to help his fellow officers.

Sheriff Kraus says incidents like these resonate with every officer and their family.

“We are all one community, one family. Certainly, anything we can do to help York County, those agencies, or the families—it’s just a terrible time.”

Kraus said he reached out immediately to offer support.

“I reached out to the York County Sheriffs’ last evening. I offered our assistance. Can we come out and help you?”

Law enforcement from across Pennsylvania, including here in Pittsburgh, are expected to join a large funeral procession in York to honor the three officers killed in the line of duty.

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