A knife-wielding homeless man was shot and killed by five members of the Columbus, Ohio police department near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday. The incident follows a shocking assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, just days prior.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman stated at a news conference that the man, identified by family members as 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe, had knives in both hands and refused police commands before charging at an unarmed individual. Police officers then opened fire, fatally wounding Sharpe. Two knives were recovered from the scene.
The shooting took place as Trump’s former primary challengers prepared to take the stage at the Republican Party convention in a show of unity for the newly designated presidential candidate. Trump’s appearance at the convention on Monday marked his first public event since surviving the assassination attempt over the weekend.
Body camera footage released by the police showed officers on bikes initially talking before one officer remarked, “He’s got a knife.” The video then depicts several officers shouting, “Drop the knife!” as they approached two men standing in the street. When the armed man advanced toward the unarmed individual, the officers discharged their weapons. “Someone’s life was in danger,” Chief Norman said. “These officers, who were not from this area, took it upon themselves to act and save someone’s life today.”
The incident has intensified emotions in Milwaukee, where thousands of officers from various jurisdictions are providing additional security for the convention, set to conclude on Thursday. Residents expressed anger and frustration over the involvement of out-of-state officers in their community, located about a mile from the convention site. The Columbus Division of Police emphasized that there was no indication the shooting was connected to the convention.
Milwaukee residents and activists quickly gathered at the scene of the shooting, expressing outrage over the killing. About 100 people held a vigil and march without incident on Tuesday night, observing a moment of silence at the blood-stained spot where Sharpe was killed.
Linda Sharpe, a cousin of the deceased, voiced her dismay: “They came into our community and shot down our family right here at a public park. What are you doing in our city, shooting people down?” She mentioned that her cousin lived in a tent encampment across the street from King Park, where the shooting occurred.
Local residents noted that the encampment had been a longstanding feature of the neighborhood, which hosts several social service clinics and a shelter. Some residents believe that Milwaukee police, familiar with many of the individuals living in the tents, might have been able to de-escalate the situation.
The shooting occurred near King Park, roughly a mile from the convention center, where a small group of protesters had gathered before marching on Monday.
