Ohio police officers from Columbus shot and killed a man wielding two knives near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, according to Milwaukee’s police chief Jeffrey Norman. The incident occurred when five members of the Columbus Police Department fired on the man, who had a knife in each hand, refused police commands, and charged at an unarmed man before being shot by the officers. Body camera footage was released showing the officers on bikes discussing the situation before one of them noticed the man with the knives.
The officers can be heard yelling “Drop the knife!” as they ran toward the two men standing in the street. When the armed man moved toward the unarmed man, the police officers fired their weapons. Two knives were recovered from the scene after the incident. The shooting took place outside the security perimeter for the Republican National Convention, sparking anger from residents who questioned the presence of out-of-state officers in their neighborhood.
Despite the shooting occurring close to the convention site, both the Columbus Division of Police and officials from Milwaukee stated that there was no indication that the incident was related to the convention. The victim of the shooting was identified as 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe by his cousin and others. Residents and activists in Milwaukee quickly gathered at the scene of the shooting to express their outrage over the involvement of officers from out of town.
A vigil and march with about 100 participants were held without incident on Tuesday night, with a moment of silence observed at the spot where Sharpe was killed. Linda Sharpe, the victim’s cousin, criticized the police department for their actions and questioned why officers from outside Milwaukee were involved in the incident. She mentioned that her cousin lived in a tent encampment across the street from King Park, where the shooting occurred.
Some residents stated that Milwaukee police officers were familiar with many of the people living in the tents and could have potentially deescalated the situation if they had been present. David Porter, who knew Samuel Sharpe and is also homeless, expressed anger at the presence of officers from outside Milwaukee in their neighborhood, suggesting that the outcome would have been different if local police had been involved.
Chief Norman explained that the Columbus officers were on a bicycle patrol and were having a meeting when they observed the altercation between the armed man and the unarmed individual. He emphasized that the officers only fired after the armed man ignored commands and posed an immediate threat to the unarmed individual. Norman commended the officers for acting to save someone’s life in a dangerous situation.
The Columbus Division of Police has a special unit dedicated to improving police-community relationships, which had been deployed to Milwaukee for the convention. The shooting near King Park, not far from the convention center, occurred during a protest where Columbus police officers in blue vests reading “Columbus Police Dialogue” were present. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office scheduled an autopsy for Wednesday to further investigate the incident.
The shooting has raised concerns among residents and activists in Milwaukee, highlighting the tensions between law enforcement and the community. The presence of officers from out of state at a local incident has sparked discussions about police procedures and the need for better communication between law enforcement and the community they serve.
