Lancaster mayor urges patience over investigation into shooting death of man who attacked police with knife

Lancaster City Mayor Danene Sorace has asked the public to remain patient in the investigation of the shooting death of Ricardo Munoz, calling it a "heartbreaking day" for the city.

“This has been a heartbreaking day for our city. I grieve for the loss of life and know that there are more questions to be answered as the investigation continues,” Sorace said in a statement to The Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Protestors swarmed the Lancaster, Pennsylvania police headquarters on Sunday after a man was killed by police following an alleged domestic disturbance incident.

Munoz, 27, was killed after police body camera footage saw the suspect charge towards police with a knife "in a threatening manner," a news release from the police department's district attorney's office said. An investigation will be conducted.

"A police-involved shooting has significant impact on a community, as we are seeing with the large number of individuals gathering in the streets," said District Attorney Heather Adams in the release. "However, I am asking that all reaction be tempered as the investigation is ongoing."

Inclement weather scattered part of the crowd, with those remaining lining up in close proximity to the police line set outside by local police headquarters. White people were told to line up as the first line of defense.

Police threw canisters of tear gas after refusal from protestors to leave the vicinity.

According to video from the Lancaster Patriot, the crowd eventually reconvened on the streets with a dedicated group made up of about 150. Protestors began chucking bricks at historic buildings, as well as parked cars and police.

Police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to clear the streets after rioters destroyed nearby property.

District Attorney Heather Adams who requested that protests "remain peaceful as violence and destruction of property will become headlines and serve no purpose for the safety and well-being of our citizens and neighborhoods.”