By Marc Levy and Mark Scolforo,Maryclaire Dale

Copyright thewest

Three police officers have been fatally shot and two wounded in southern Pennsylvania and the shooter has been killed by police.

Officers were at the scene, in rolling farmland, to follow up on a domestic-related investigation that began the previous day.

“This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro told a news conference.

“We grieve the loss of life of three precious souls who served this county, who served this commonwealth, who served this country.”

“This kind of violence is not OK. We need to do better as a society,” Shapiro said.

Condolences began pouring in from police departments across the region on social media and people began leaving flowers at the headquarters of the Northern York Regional Police Department.

“The grief will be unbearable but we will bear it,” said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris, who pledged a full, fair investigation.

Dozens of police and emergency vehicles with their lights flashing formed a procession to the coroner’s office. People lined the road holding US flags and saluted as it passed.

The shooting erupted on Wednesday local time in the area of North Codorus Township, about 185 kilometres west of Philadelphia, not far from the Maryland line, authorities said.

Dirk Anderson, a farmer who lives across a two-lane country road from the scene, said he was in his shop “when we heard shots”, which he described as “quite a few”. He saw a helicopter arrive and a large police vehicle response.

The two injured officers were in critical but stable condition in hospital, authorities said.

They did not identify the shooter, the officers or which police department they belonged to, or describe the circumstances of how they were shot, citing the ongoing investigation.

Shapiro said he and other officials met with the slain officers’ families, who, while grieving, took the time to say how proud they were of their loved ones.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi called the violence against police “a scourge on our society”. She said federal agents were on the scene to support local officers.