YORK, Pa. — On Saturday, Nancy Duarte Matarese experienced a wave of anxiety that quickly turned into overwhelming dread as she was led into a small family room at WellSpan York Hospital. This facility was located close to UPMC Memorial Hospital, where her son, police officer Andrew Duarte, had been involved in a critical shooting incident just hours prior.

“I thought to myself, ‘This can’t be good; if he were okay, they would take me to him,’” recalled Duarte Matarese.

“I had a sinking feeling that Andrew had been called to his eternal rest with the Lord, and that he was no longer with us,” she expressed.

Her worst fears came to fruition when she learned that Andrew had lost his life following a confrontation with a gunman who entered the hospital near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, taking hostages before a violent shooting that left several injured.

Less than 24 hours later, Duarte Matarese visited a memorial made of flowers, candles, and balloons outside the West York Borough Police Department, created by community members. It was here she reflected on the “incredible young man” who was also her only child.

“He possessed a warrior’s heart and an indomitable spirit,” Duarte Matarese shared in an interview with NBC News.

Authorities report that the suspected shooter, Diogenes Archangel Ortiz, 49, arrived at the facility armed with a handgun and zip ties, proceeding directly to the ICU.

York County District Attorney Tim Baker stated he believes the shooting was intentional.

“Diogenes Archangel Ortiz had some prior contact with the ICU earlier that week for medical reasons involving another person,” he noted.

The local community is still grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event.

“I received a message from my wife, who works in the ICU, saying she loved me and was uncertain if she would make it out,” expressed Tad Pequignot.

Mary Eck, a lifelong resident of York, stopped at the memorial on Sunday afternoon.

“You think a hospital is a safe place, but that’s just not the reality anymore,” she remarked.

Betsy Small was at UPMC visiting her mother on the third floor when the incident unfolded.

“I had been there for about 11 minutes when I heard the alarms sounding,” she shared.

Her 77-year-old mother was confined to bed when the hospital went into lockdown. Small secured the room and took refuge in the bathroom, hearing cries and loud noises throughout the building.

“With school shootings and hospital shootings happening, it makes you question your safety,” she reflected, adding that she wasn’t allowed to leave until around 4 p.m., after the situation was resolved.

As the community seeks to heal and return to normalcy, Duarte Matarese expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from both residents and officials.

“This is a small, close-knit borough, and to see people come together, even if they didn’t know him personally, is truly heartwarming. I genuinely appreciate it,” she said.

Duarte Matarese shared the close bond she had with her son, recalling how he brought joy and laughter wherever he went. She believed he possessed the qualities that made him an exceptional officer.

“I always knew he would respond to the call. I’m not surprised he was among the first to engage. He was a true warrior,” she expressed. “That was Andrew.”