A nurse at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, experienced a harrowing ordeal during an armed attack on February 24, 2025. Tosha Trostle recounted in a Facebook post how she was held at gunpoint by Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, who had taken hostages before being fatally shot by police. The incident left one officer dead and several others injured.
- Nurse Tosha Trostle survived armed attack.
- Attacker held Trostle as a human shield.
- Officer Andrew Duarte was killed in shooting.
- Jessica Breighner escaped after breaking zip ties.
- Trostle experiences ongoing emotional trauma.
- Funeral for Officer Duarte scheduled Friday.
The situation unfolded when Archangel-Ortiz entered the hospital with a firearm and zip ties. He took hostages, including nurses like Trostle and her colleague Jessica Breighner. During the chaos, Trostle described being forced to walk with her arms zip-tied behind her back as she pleaded for her life. When they encountered responding officers, she recalled hearing gunfire and feeling the weight of the assailant’s body on top of her.
Key details from the incident include:
- Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz was 49 years old.
- Officer Andrew Duarte was killed during the exchange of gunfire.
- Two other officers and three hospital employees sustained injuries.
Trostle noted that she initially thought there was a routine emergency when she heard commotion in the hallway but soon realized it was much more serious upon seeing Breighner held at gunpoint. After enduring a traumatic encounter where Archangel-Ortiz attempted to use his weapon against Breighner without success due to apparent ammunition failure, Breighner managed to escape after breaking free from her restraints while he reloaded.
The aftermath has left lasting emotional scars on those involved. Trostle expressed deep sadness over Officer Duarte’s death and emphasized that physical injuries are minor compared to psychological trauma faced by survivors. As investigations continue, community members mourn Duarte’s loss while supporting those affected by this tragic event.
This tragic event underscores the risks healthcare workers face daily and raises questions about security measures within medical facilities as communities process their grief over lost lives and injuries sustained during such violent incidents.
