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Who was Ricardo Munoz? Knife-wielding man fatally shot by Lancaster police identified, investigation underway

A Lancaster city police officer shot Ricardo Munoz, 27, who was armed with a knife on September 13, Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene

LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA: A 27-year-old man was shot dead by Lancaster police on September 13, Sunday. The incident happened after the city police responded to a home call in the 300 block of Laurel Street in Lancaster, at 4:15 pm to report a domestic disturbance.

On scene, a Lancaster city police officer shot a man who was armed with a knife. The man, identified as Ricardo Munoz, was pronounced dead at the scene. The footage of the incident went viral on social media where an officer can be seen in front of a house in Laurel Street, while a man immediately emerges from inside and runs toward the officer, brandishing a knife above his head, in clear view, in a threatening manner.

Immediately after the shooting crowds began to gather leading to a protest of hundreds of people starting at the scene of the shooting heading to the city police station near Prince and Chestnut Streets in Lancaster. "A police-involved shooting has a significant impact on a community, as we are seeing with the large number of individuals gathering in the streets," District Attorney Heather Adams said on September 13, Sunday. "However, I am asking that all reactions be tempered as the investigation is ongoing. We will do our best to release details about the incident in a timely manner," DA Adams said. 

Who was Ricardo Munoz?

Munoz was previously arrested by Lancaster Police after he stabbed two people on March 4, 2019. The statement released by Lancaster Police read, "The preliminary investigation revealed that Munoz had gotten involved in a verbal altercation with people outside of the residence on the 500 blk. N. Queen St. That escalated to a physical altercation where several people reportedly punched or kicked Munoz. At the end of the fight all of the combatants walked away from Munoz. Munoz went to a backpack and retrieved a knife. Munoz used the knife to stab or slash the victims. The victims were able to retreat into the residence and Munoz was still outside when Officers arrived.

"The juvenile, the (22) year old female and the (26) year old male with the stab wound to the arm are all related to each other. There is no known relationship between Munoz and any of the victims."

"Det. Matt Odenthal filed a criminal complaint against Munoz before MDJ Roth. Munoz has been charged with (4) counts Aggravated Assault (F1). Munoz was processed on the complaint and is awaiting preliminary arraignment," read the statement.

Soon after the news about Munoz went viral, people took to social media to air their views on the incident. "And the video is clear. He charged a cop wielding a large kitchen knife." While another one said, "Trump’s 2nd term should really focus on the mental health crisis in this country. What we’re doing right now is not working." While one user shared the bodycam footage of the incident.