On Tuesday, Ohio police fatally shot a man brandishing knives near the Republican National Convention (RNC). This incident comes just days after an assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
In a related event on Monday, Capitol Police officers and Homeland Security Investigations arrested a man wearing a ski mask and carrying an “AK-47 pistol” near the RNC site.
The Ohio police team, stationed in Wisconsin for the convention, retrieved two knives from the deceased man, who was found just blocks away from the RNC. Milwaukee Chief Jeffrey Norman stated at a news conference that five officers from the Columbus, Ohio, police department opened fire after the man, wielding a knife in each hand, ignored police commands and charged at an unarmed individual.
The New York Post reported that the suspect was a homeless man experiencing mental distress. Witnesses claimed to have heard eight gunshots, with some alleging that the man was shot in the back while attempting to flee.
The shooting sparked anger among local residents, who questioned the presence of out-of-state officers in their neighborhood, approximately a mile from the convention site. It’s important to note that thousands of police officers from various states are currently stationed in Milwaukee to provide security for the RNC.
Residents and activists quickly gathered at the scene, expressing outrage over the involvement of the Ohio police department. They organized a nighttime vigil in response. The deceased was identified as Samuel Sharpe, a resident of a nearby tent encampment for homeless individuals. Tent area residents voiced their belief that Sharpe would still be alive if Milwaukee police had handled the situation.
The officers involved were wearing body cameras, and the footage will be released soon, according to the police department.
Man Carrying AK-47 Arrested
Authorities arrested a man carrying an AK-47 pistol and a loaded magazine, dressed in a ski mask and tactical bag, near the RNC. Lacking a valid gun permit, he was taken into custody immediately. His identity remains undisclosed.
This incident follows an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, where a 20-year-old man fired multiple shots at a rally addressed by the former president. Trump escaped with a minor ear injury, but one bystander was killed and two others were critically injured. The shooter was shot dead by the US Secret Service shortly after firing his first shot.
