Police shooting in Milwaukee, Ohio officers involved; man dead
MILWAUKEE - Police officers from Columbus, Ohio fatally shot a man near 14th and Vliet in Milwaukee on Tuesday afternoon, July 16.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office was dispatched to the scene and reported the deceased is an adult male. He has since been identified as 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe Jr.
Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said it happened around 1:10 p.m. There were 13 uniformed Columbus police officers assigned to a bicycle patrol in the assigned zone.
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Norman said a man, Sharpe, had a knife in each hand and was in an altercation with another unarmed person. Several officers discharged their firearms, subsequently striking him and killing him.
Two knives were recovered from the scene.
The location is a little more than a mile from the Republican National Convention security perimeter.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17.
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Secret Service involved in probe
FOX6 News has learned Milwaukee police are handling the investigation at the scene. However, the U.S. Secret Service is playing some role. No officers were injured.
The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team will be investigating the incident. The Greenfield Police Department will be the lead law enforcement agency in the investigation.
Body worn camera video will be released in accordance to Columbus Division of Police policy.
U.S. Secret Service statement:
"The U.S. Secret Service remains confident in the operational security plan for the Republican National Convention and has not identified any issues at this point that would warrant changes to the security measures currently in place. As the convention progresses, the U.S. Secret Service will continuously adapt our operations as needed in order to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee.
"The officer involved shooting that occurred today, July 16, near 14th St and Vliet St in Milwaukee did not occur within the security perimeters and was unrelated to the convention. Questions about the incident should be directed to the Milwaukee Police Department."
Reaction
"They told us to trust the process. Well look at what the process got us?" Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression outreach chair Alan Chavoya said. "Why are they out here, outside of the RNC security zones, killing our community members?"
Police shooting near 14th and Vliet in Milwaukee
Miulwaukee County Executive David Crowley
"My heart goes out to the families, the community, and all those affected by the tragic events that occurred outside King Park today. The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services works closely in this neighborhood and are already in the area providing assistance and counseling to those in need. But as we have seen in the past, the trauma and grief that residents are currently experiencing will impact their day-to-day lives long after today. We must keep working to stop the cycle of violence and foster safer neighborhoods for every resident, family, and child in Milwaukee. As the investigation continues, I am calling for full accountability and transparency, including more details about how this situation unfolded that resulted in deadly force and a loss of life."
ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Dr. Melinda Brennan
"We are aware of the fatal civilian shooting by Columbus, Ohio Police that took place in the King Park neighborhood, approximately a mile away from the Fiserv Forum, well outside of the RNC security perimeter. As we wait for more details to surface, we're calling for a full and transparent investigation into what exactly led to the shooting, including the swift release of any bodycam footage pertaining to the encounter.
More than 4,000 additional law enforcement officials are in Milwaukee for the RNC, and we've long feared how this heavy police presence could increase the risk of deadly police encounters, especially by out-of-state officers who don’t know and aren’t accountable to our community. We offer our condolences to the friends and family of the person killed."