Matthew James Ruth was a 24-year-old man from Pennsylvania who fatally shot three police officers and wounded two more during a violent confrontation in York County on September 17, 2025. The event began as a domestic-related call when officers returned to a farm to serve a warrant on Ruth for stalking, loitering, and criminal trespassing charges filed against him earlier. Ruth was reportedly stalking his ex-girlfriend, who had also accused him of setting her truck on fire. Ruth ambushed the officers in camouflage clothing from a cornfield near his ex-girlfriend's farmhouse, resulting in a deadly shootout. He was killed in the exchange of gunfire. The incident is described as the deadliest day for Pennsylvania law enforcement this century. Neighbors described Ruth as reclusive but previously not known for violent behavior on this scale. Authorities are investigating the motive and the connection to the domestic dispute, as well as Ruth's mental health and how he accessed firearms.