BLM riots in Lancaster, PA over shooting of felon who tried to stab a police officer

An officer-involved shooting in Lancaster City, PA took the life of 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz on Sunday. The action prompted widespread Black Lives Matter riots across the Pennsylvanian city to demand justice for the man, whom they claim was murdered by a trigger-happy police officer.

The police were called to the area for a report of an in-progress domestic disturbance when Munoz lunged at the responding officer while brandishing a knife over his head. Bodycam footage shows Munoz charging out the door of a home, knife in hand, in pursuit of a police officer who is forced to draw his firearm and fire at the suspect.

Police initially stated that Munoz was armed with a knife at the time of the shooting and promised to release bodycam footage, which they did at 11PM Eastern—but it wasn't enough to quell Black Lives Matter protest organizers who claimed that Munoz was a victim of police brutality.

Munoz has an extensive history of violence. In 2019, Lancaster Police arrested Munoz after responding to reports of a fight and learned that the suspect stabbed four people, Local21 reported.

At the time, officers found Munoz holding a knife to his own throat and instructed him to drop the knife, but he refused and attempted escape. Eventually, police managed to take him down with a taser.

Among Munoz's four stabbing victims was a 16-year-old who suffered multiple stab wounds to his face, thigh, ankle, and torso. His other victims included a 22-year-old female, and two other male victims, both 26, all of whom suffered multiple injuries.

There was no known relationship to Munoz and the victims, whom he appeared to select at random.

Munoz was awaiting criminal trial for four counts of aggravated assault in the first degree when he attacked the police officer in the shooting on Sunday.

Munoz's history of criminality includes stalking (repeatedly commit acts to cause fear), harassment, and criminal trespass.

Despite Munoz’s extensive criminal history, BLM protesters took to the streets of Lancaster on Sunday night to protest the shooting. A number of rioters damaged police vehicles.

Over the course of the night, protesters agitated in the street and demanded that livestreamers and journalists to stop documenting their activity.

In one instance, Black Lives Matter activists appeared to assault livestreamer Franklin James Davis.

Some protesters geared up in body armor and stated that there would be no peace, and that they would get results "one way or another."

Other protesters stated that there would be some form of retribution to the police, and that it was time to "strap up," which is common slang for arming up.

Throughout the night, protest organizers instructed "white allies" to form the front line against police and in one instance instructed white people to get on their knees.

Following the release of the bodycam footage, the protest devolved into infighting among Black Lives Matter activists.

Others openly misrepresented the shooting to TV news media present at the demonstration about Munoz, referring to the 27-year-old as a "little kid."