Lancaster Mayor Makes Statement after Shooting and Protest
Written by Juliana on September 15, 2020
Lancaster Mayor Makes Statement after Shooting and Protest
By Julia Agos, WITF
September 15, 2020
Lancaster’s mayor is calling on the governor and General Assembly to address systemic problems in policing and mental health services.
WITF’s Julia Agos reports it comes in the wake of the shooting of 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz by a city police officer.
An officer was called to Munoz’s home on Laurel Street after they received a domestic violence disturbance complaint.
Body cam footage shows Munoz charging at the officer with a knife before being shot.
Munoz’s sister says her brother has struggled with schizophrenia for years.
Mayor Danene Sorace says the incident makes clear the need to address larger issues in mental health and income inequality.
“This isn’t just about police. It’s about how a third – or really about half depending on how you measure it – of our city residents live below the poverty line,” said Sorace.
Lancaster is the only police department in the county with a social worker and an additional hire in process.
The officer involved in the incident has been placed on leave — per department policy.
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