MILWAUKEE, WI - On Tuesday, July 16th, a man was fatally shot by police near 14th and Vliet Streets, which is roughly one mile from Fiserv Forum, the main venue for the Republican National Convention (RNC).
With security measures tightened after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump just one day before the RNC began, the Columbus Division of Police confirmed that the officer-involved shooting happened in the "outer perimeter of the RNC" and that it does not appear to be related to the convention.
The shooting happened just after 1:00 p.m., when according to WISN, witnesses said that they saw two homeless men fighting in King Park and one of them pulled out a knife. The witnesses said that the two men were startled when several officers responded to the scene and that the man wielding the knife was shot at by the responding officers.
During a press conference after the incident, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said that 13 uniformed Columbus, Ohio, police officers were assigned to bike patrol in that assigned zone. Norman said that the officers observed a subject armed with a knife in each hand engaged in an altercation with another individual.
Officers reportedly made several verbal commands, telling the armed suspect to drop the knife, but he refused to listen and instead began charging at the other individual involved in the altercation. Norman said at that moment, officers discharged their duty weapons, striking the armed suspect.
One witness said that the man lived in a nearby homeless camp and confirmed that the person was brandishing a knife when he was shot by police. Officers recovered two knives from the scene. Norman said in a statement, "This unfolded. Somebody's life was in immediate danger. Two knifes were recovered from this situation. Someone's life was in danger. These officers not from this area took upon themselves to act to save someone's life."
People who were in the area protesting the RNC heard about the officer-involved shooting and slammed the RNC for coming into their town with out-of-town police. In a statement, the Coalition to March on the RNC said, "It is notable that the Columbus Ohio Police Department was present at our protest, putting themselves out there as supposed peacekeepers. It feels obvious to say that killing people, carrying weapons, is not a part of peacekeeping.
It is also notable that the Milwaukee Police Department said they would keep outside agencies away from the broader Milwaukee community, which they failed to do." Protesters said that the man's name was Samuel Sharpe Jr., but that has not been confirmed. Alleged family of the man say that he was a homeless veteran.
On Tuesday evening, July 16th, the Columbus police chief released the body camera footage from the incident. Chief Elaine R. Bryant said in a statement, "In the interest of transparency, I am releasing body-worn camera footage of the shooting. I have been in contact with the Milwaukee Police Department to advise them of my decision to release this footage." The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is investigating the shooting and the Greenfield Police Department will be the lead law enforcement agency in the investigation.
The heightened security surrounding the RNC includes police from 63 departments in 24 states and Washington, D.C., along with 44 Wisconsin agencies. While the incident above is confirmed to have no relation to the RNC, that is not the case for the armed suspect that was arrested on Monday, July 15th, just blocks away from Fiserv Forum.
According to Fox News, a federal law enforcement source confirmed that Homeland Security Investigators and Capitol Police were conducting surveillance near the RNC perimeter when they noticed a suspicious man approaching the area. He was wearing a ski mask and carrying a tactical bag.
When police intercepted the man and searched his bag, they found a gun and a full magazine. The Milwaukee Police Department said that the 21-year-old man was arrested around 1:00 p.m. on the 1200 block of N. 11th Street. A background check on the man confirmed that he does not have a concealed weapon license in Wisconsin or any other state.
According to police, charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. Additional information will be shared with the public as the investigation continues.
These were not the only two incidents to happen near the RNC. On Tuesday, July 16th, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-MN) said that he was assaulted by a protester. He said that a member of CODEPINK assaulted him while he was waiting in line to enter the venue. He called it an "incident of political violence."
All of this happened on the day of the RNC that had the theme of "Make America Safe Once Again" with former President Trump calling to address the crime in Milwaukee.
With security measures tightened after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump just one day before the RNC began, the Columbus Division of Police confirmed that the officer-involved shooting happened in the "outer perimeter of the RNC" and that it does not appear to be related to the convention.
The shooting happened just after 1:00 p.m., when according to WISN, witnesses said that they saw two homeless men fighting in King Park and one of them pulled out a knife. The witnesses said that the two men were startled when several officers responded to the scene and that the man wielding the knife was shot at by the responding officers.
During a press conference after the incident, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said that 13 uniformed Columbus, Ohio, police officers were assigned to bike patrol in that assigned zone. Norman said that the officers observed a subject armed with a knife in each hand engaged in an altercation with another individual.
Officers reportedly made several verbal commands, telling the armed suspect to drop the knife, but he refused to listen and instead began charging at the other individual involved in the altercation. Norman said at that moment, officers discharged their duty weapons, striking the armed suspect.
One witness said that the man lived in a nearby homeless camp and confirmed that the person was brandishing a knife when he was shot by police. Officers recovered two knives from the scene. Norman said in a statement, "This unfolded. Somebody's life was in immediate danger. Two knifes were recovered from this situation. Someone's life was in danger. These officers not from this area took upon themselves to act to save someone's life."
People who were in the area protesting the RNC heard about the officer-involved shooting and slammed the RNC for coming into their town with out-of-town police. In a statement, the Coalition to March on the RNC said, "It is notable that the Columbus Ohio Police Department was present at our protest, putting themselves out there as supposed peacekeepers. It feels obvious to say that killing people, carrying weapons, is not a part of peacekeeping.
It is also notable that the Milwaukee Police Department said they would keep outside agencies away from the broader Milwaukee community, which they failed to do." Protesters said that the man's name was Samuel Sharpe Jr., but that has not been confirmed. Alleged family of the man say that he was a homeless veteran.
On Tuesday evening, July 16th, the Columbus police chief released the body camera footage from the incident. Chief Elaine R. Bryant said in a statement, "In the interest of transparency, I am releasing body-worn camera footage of the shooting. I have been in contact with the Milwaukee Police Department to advise them of my decision to release this footage." The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is investigating the shooting and the Greenfield Police Department will be the lead law enforcement agency in the investigation.
The heightened security surrounding the RNC includes police from 63 departments in 24 states and Washington, D.C., along with 44 Wisconsin agencies. While the incident above is confirmed to have no relation to the RNC, that is not the case for the armed suspect that was arrested on Monday, July 15th, just blocks away from Fiserv Forum.
According to Fox News, a federal law enforcement source confirmed that Homeland Security Investigators and Capitol Police were conducting surveillance near the RNC perimeter when they noticed a suspicious man approaching the area. He was wearing a ski mask and carrying a tactical bag.
When police intercepted the man and searched his bag, they found a gun and a full magazine. The Milwaukee Police Department said that the 21-year-old man was arrested around 1:00 p.m. on the 1200 block of N. 11th Street. A background check on the man confirmed that he does not have a concealed weapon license in Wisconsin or any other state.
According to police, charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. Additional information will be shared with the public as the investigation continues.
These were not the only two incidents to happen near the RNC. On Tuesday, July 16th, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-MN) said that he was assaulted by a protester. He said that a member of CODEPINK assaulted him while he was waiting in line to enter the venue. He called it an "incident of political violence."
All of this happened on the day of the RNC that had the theme of "Make America Safe Once Again" with former President Trump calling to address the crime in Milwaukee.
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