The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office released the body camera footage that showed the police-involved shooting of an armed suspect. The incident was quickly seized on by Black Lives Matter activists and the protests in the city quickly turned into a riot.
#BREAKING @Lancaster_DA release body cam video from todays fatal Officer involved shooting. Video shows 27 year old Ricardo Munoz running toward an officer with a knife above his head before being shot *GRAPHIC* . @CBSPhilly #LancasterPA pic.twitter.com/ERXKhNijMh
— Joshua Crompton (@PhillyNewsGuy) September 14, 2020
The demonstrations were started before the footage was released, but even after it showed the suspect, Ricardo Munoz, charging at the Lancaster officer with a knife, prompting the officer to shoot as he ran away, the riots continued.
Munoz had a criminal history of stabbing people. In 2019, he was arrested after stabbing four people multiple times, including a 16-year-old boy.
LANCASTER: BLM riots kick off in Lancaster, PA after an officer involved shooting of a man armed with a knife
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) September 14, 2020
pic.twitter.com/iGX1D03hiN
Windows and vehicles in the downtown area were targeted and damaged by rioters, with fires also being started. When the rioters turned their attention to the police by throwing projectiles, officers used tear gas and other less-than-lethal ordinance to disperse the crowd.
Throwing bricks at Police vehicle and busting out windows/lights
— Kitty Shackleford (@KittyLists) September 14, 2020
Lancaster, PA pic.twitter.com/mU1lPQl3se
Welcome to Lancaster PA. pic.twitter.com/hZ3RwIqksv
— Lancaster Patriot (@thelancpatriot) September 14, 2020
PENNSYLVANIA: After rioters began throwing bricks and breaking windows of the police station
— Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 14, 2020
Police deploy tear gas and rubber bullets again to clear the street and intersection in front of the police station pic.twitter.com/0xRDMz6o4w
PENNSYLVANIA: Last night the BLM rioters seemed to be a bit in experienced with tear gas and continued to result to throwing bricks pic.twitter.com/W6ObWpTaxO
— Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 14, 2020
PENNSYLVANIA: Rioter gets shot in his testicles by a rubber bullet pic.twitter.com/i1BFojeIe7
— Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 14, 2020