Fallen York County officer Andrew Duarte’s mother shares memories of her son

YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – Nancy Duarte Matarese, the mother of fallen West York Borough Officer Andrew Duarte, says the support she’s received since her son’s passing on Saturday has been overwhelming.

Duarte was killed after responding to an active shooter at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County on Saturday. Two other officers and four staff members were injured when a gunman entered the hospital ICU and took staff hostage.

Duarte’s mother says she had been running errands on Saturday when she got the news no parent ever wants to hear. Officers arrived at her front door to deliver the news that her son had been shot while responding to the active shooter call.

She says she and her son had exchanged messages on Snapchat earlier that day like they always do. Their last in-person conversation was on Thursday.

“I said to him, as I always said to him when he would leave, I said, be smart and be safe this weekend at work and I love you, and he said, yeah, and I love you too.”

Officer Duarte celebrated his 30th birthday last Monday, Feb. 17. The York County Coroner’s Office says Duarte died from “ballistic injuries.”

“The Lord used him to save the lives of others, even though it took Andrew’s life, which I can’t even believe when I say it out loud,” his mother said.

Officer Duarte started his career as a seasonal police officer in Ocean City, Maryland. His mother attended his police academy graduation in Denver, Colorado. He worked there from 2017 until 2022. He transferred to West York Borough to be closer to his mother.

Duarte’s mother says she wants people to remember her son as a smart, courageous, funny young man who had a willingness to serve and loved his family and friends deeply.

“We were very close,” Duarte Matarese says. “He was the joy of my life. He’s my only child, so I poured everything that I am into him.”

When asked why Andrew wanted to become a police officer, his mother says she believes he wanted to keep the bad guys off the streets. She says he was very punctual from a young age. She initially thought he’d go into the military.

“I want them to remember him as a smart, courageous young man, full of integrity and fortitude and a willingness to serve with a deep love for his family and his friends,” Duarte Matarese says. “I want people to know that he loved well, he was funny, he had a very dry sense of humor, and he was very smart. I mean, really smart.”

According to West York Borough, Duarte’s funeral will be held on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at the Living Word Community Church at 2530 Cape Horn Road in Red Lion, PA 17356.  

Fundraisers for the Duarte family are being held across the region. A fund has been established for donations to be made online or in person at the West York Borough office.

Funds via check can be sent to: West York Borough, 1381 West Poplar Street, West York, Pennsylvania 17404: C/O Officer Duarte Memorial Fund.

Donations can also be made online through the York County Safety Collaborative by selecting Officer Andrew Duarte.

Governor Josh Shapiro ordered flags be lowered to half-staff across Pennsylvania in honor of Duarte.