The Lancaster County (PA) District Attorney's Office said Wednesday it will not charge the Lancaster police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Ricardo Muñoz on September 13.
District Attorney Heather Adams made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday morning, saying that the officer was justified in the use of deadly force, Fox43 reports.
Munoz, 27, was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a reported domestic disturbance call at a home in Lancaster at about 4:15 p.m. on Sept. 13.
The officer's body cam footage showed that when the officer got in front of a home near the scene, Munoz immediately emerged from inside and ran toward the officer, brandishing a knife above his head, in clear view, in a threatening manner.
In this incident, District Attorney Adams determined that the officer was clearly justified in firing four shots at Munoz, as Munoz chased him with a large knife – clearly presenting a threat to the officer’s life.
At the scene, police recovered a large fixed-blade, hunting-style knife next to Munoz’s body, which he used in his charge at the officer.
The incident sparked protests and riots outside the Lancaster Bureau of Police Station, resulting in the arrests of 13 people over two days.
