'I need help': Pennsylvania mayor makes desperate plea after fatal police shooting of Ricardo Munoz in Lancaster

LANCASTER, Pa. — Demonstrators in Pennsylvania took to the streets for the second night in a row, this time more peacefully following the fatal shooting of a man by police on Sunday.

About 40 protesters gathered outside the police station in downtown Lancaster shortly before 7 p.m. EDT, chanting "No justice, no peace." That came hours after video showed police escorting a man in handcuffs into the station and a night after protesters broke windows of police vehicles after the fatal shooting of Ricardo Munoz, 27.

Earlier Monday, Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace issued a clear and emotional message less than 24 hours after a city police officer shot and killed a man who was chasing him with what appeared to be a large knife.

"I need help. We need help," Sorace said, calling on leaders across Pennsylvania to help forge a solution to shootings involving police officers. "I am clear beyond a doubt that we lack the tools, the resources, the expertise and the capacity to do this on our own here in the City of Lancaster."

"We need an evidence-based protocol for responding," she said. "What is that protocol?"

"Additionally, how do we create and staff a system that can respond 365 days a year, 24 hours a day and within minutes? These are just a few of the questions that need to be answered to create a countywide plan," she said.

The mayor said budget cuts have hampered the police department's ability to respond to high-risk situations. ... (Read more)

Tweets mentioned:

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