Lancaster Police Use Tear Gas At Protest, DA Calls For ‘Peaceful’ Demonstrations

Lancaster, Pennsylvania was suddenly the spot for an unplanned Black Lives Matter protest. The crowd started gathering Sunday, shortly after police shot a Latino man who had a knife.

Police were responding to a domestic disturbance call on Sunday around 4 p.m. Body camera footage released by the Lancaster Police Department shows 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz coming toward the officer with a knife. The officer fired several shots, killing Munoz, CBS reports.

Crowds started gathering shortly after the shooting on Sunday evening outside the Lancaster Police Department. Officials say buildings and government vehicles were damaged, and tear gas was used on demonstrators.

The Lancaster City Police released a statement saying over 100 protestors gathered on an access ramp, and they were told several times that “chemical munitions” would be used to make them disperse.

The release claims that protestors have thrown traffic barricades, large planters and trash receptacles across the ramp. Bricks were allegedly thrown into the police station and post office. “People on the ramp, W. Chestnut St. and the park adjacent to the station threw water bottles, glass bottles, rocks, bricks, gallon jugs of liquids and parts of plastic road barricades at Officers,” the statement added.

District Attorney Heather Adams asked for calm demonstrations from concerned citizens.

“We ask that acts of protest remain peaceful as violence and destruction of property will become headlines and serve no purpose for the safety and wellbeing of our citizens and neighborhoods,” Adams stated.

As soon as Twitter caught wind of the situation, “Amish” started trending. However, many were quick to point out that “Amish Country” is not Lancaster City, which has about 60,000 residents. The Amish are out in various towns with farmland in Lancaster County.