Samuel Sharpe Obituary – Ohio police officers attending the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin fatally shot a man who was armed with two knives near the event, according to Milwaukee’s police chief, Jeffrey Norman. The man, who had a knife in each hand, ignored police orders and charged at an unarmed individual before being shot by five members of the Columbus, Ohio, police department. Two knives were recovered from the scene, Chief Norman confirmed during a press conference.
Body camera footage released by the police showed officers on bicycles discussing the situation before one of them noticed the knives. The officers then shouted for the man to drop the knives as they approached two individuals standing in the street. When the armed man advanced towards the unarmed individual, the officers opened fire.
Chief Norman emphasized that the officers acted to protect someone’s life, despite not being from the area. The incident occurred in a neighborhood close to the convention site, where thousands of officers from various jurisdictions are providing additional security for the event.
The shooting sparked outrage among residents, who questioned the presence of out-of-state officers in their community. However, the Columbus Division of Police, Milwaukee’s mayor’s chief of staff, and the convention’s joint command center spokesperson all stated that there was no indication the shooting was related to the convention itself.
The victim was identified as 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe by his cousin and others. Following the incident, Milwaukee residents and activists gathered at the shooting site to express their anger over the involvement of police officers due to the convention. Around 100 people held a peaceful vigil and march on Tuesday evening, observing a moment of silence at the location where Sharpe lost his life. Linda Sharpe, a cousin of the victim, condemned the police’s actions, stating, “They came into our community and shot down our family right here at a public park.”
