General Discussion

The family grew suspicious Ruth had been entering their property after an unknown suspect set his ex-girlfriend’s truck on fire in August, Barker said. After that incident, the family placed a trail camera on the property’s driveway.

Around 11:23 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, Barker said the mother of the ex-girlfriend called police to report that camera captured Ruth on their property wearing a camouflage outfit and looking through a scope into their property. Barker said Ruth had an AR-15 style rifle slung across his chest in the still frame.

The evidence from that night led police to charge Ruth with misdemeanor stalking and loitering and prowling at night. Detectives went to Ruth’s home the next day and interviewed his family after he was not there. They then went to the ex-girlfriend’s home, where the family was not staying because of safety concerns, to continue the investigation.

Detectives and a York County deputy sheriff noticed the home’s front door was unlocked, which it should not have been, and entered. Barker said Ruth immediately opened fire, killing three detectives. Prior to the arrival of law enforcement, Barker said Ruth also shot and killed the family’s dog. “Make no mistake about it, and this I can conclude by all reasonable inferences from all information without speculation, had they arrived home and not Northern York County Regional Police Department officers, they would’ve been killed immediately by the actor,” Barker said.