Three officers shot dead in Pennsylvania, two in grave condition

Three police officers have been fatally shot in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, with two reported to be in grave condition and another in critical care.

The shooting happened on Wednesday afternoon in North Codorus Township, a rural area of York County about 160 kilometres east of Philadelphia. Officials said the incident unfolded shortly after 14:00 local time (19:00 BST) while officers were serving a court order.

The suspect is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to U.S. media reports.

Images from the scene showed a police officer being airlifted by a medical helicopter from a grassy field surrounded by emergency vehicles.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he had been briefed and was travelling to the scene. He urged residents to follow local law enforcement instructions.

“This kind of violence isn’t okay. We need to do better as a society,” Shapiro said at the press conference.

"We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon is the answer to resolving disputes," he added.

Authorities confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the public. A nearby school district briefly sheltered in place but later said students were not affected.

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