Officer killed in Pennsylvania had previous brush with death

(NewsNation) — As York County, Pennsylvania, mourns the loss of three police officers killed in an ambush on Wednesday, the community is reflecting on their years of service and previous brushes with death in the line of duty.

Detective Sgt. Cody Becker and Detectives Mark Baker and Isaiah Emenheiser were killed while following up on a domestic-related incident in which the suspect had reportedly been trespassing. The gunman, identified as James Ruth, exchanged fire with the officers after they arrived, killing three and injuring two others. Ruth was killed after being shot by police, according to Col. Christopher Paris with the Pennsylvania State Police.

According to the York Daily Record, Emenheiser narrowly avoided being shot in May 2015 while working as a patrol officer with the Northern York County Regional Police Department. The publication reports that Emenheiser had responded to a call about a man with a weapon at a home when the suspect shot at him. The bullet missed, striking a nearby water heater instead.

In a statement on Thursday, Emenheiser’s alma mater, York College, honored his passing and commended his service.

“The entire law enforcement community of York County is mourning the loss of Detective Emenheiser and the other officers of the Northern York County Regional Police Department who gave their lives to keep our community safe,” York College Police Chief Ed Bruder said. “Detective Emenheiser is the finest example of an alumnus who lived by our college motto ‘Servire, Est, Vivere,’ (to serve is to live).”