On September 13, 2020, at approximately 4:13 PM, Lancaster County-Wide Communications received a 911 call for a domestic in the 300 block of Laurel Street in Lancaster City. The caller related that her brother was reportedly becoming aggressive with his mother and was attempting to break into her house. Several officers from the Lancaster City Bureau of Police responded to the call and the first officer arrived at 4:24 pm. The first officer on the scene walked to the front of the residence and made contact with a woman, who was identified as a family member. A male subject then exited the front door of the residence and began chasing the officer. Preliminary information and body worn camera footage indicates that the male subject had a knife in his right hand as he was chasing the officer.
The officer fired several shots from his firearm, striking the subject. The subject, identified as 27 year old Lancaster man, did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was the only police officer on the scene at the time of the shooting and his body worn camera was activated and recorded the encounter. Additional officers arrived a short time later. The following footage was recorded on the officer’s body worn camera. The images contained in this video are graphic and may be disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised. The video footage is permitted to be released under Pennsylvania Act 22. The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office was contacted immediately and is now conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting. While the investigation is still in the early stages and is on-going, the Lancaster City Bureau of Police is releasing this video footage after providing it to the investigators. This release of information does not include any determination about compliance with Bureau policies or whether the use of force was justified. Whether or not the use of force was justified will be determined by the Lancaster County District Attorney upon the completion of the investigation and review of all available facts. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information related to this investigation is urged to call the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office at (717) 299-8100 or Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913. You can also Text a Tip to Crime Stoppers by texting LANCS plus your message to 847411. Tipsters may remain anonymous and do not have to give their names.
