The area surrounding the Republican National Convention has been rocked by news of a shooting that has left at least one dead. The shooting thrust the city of Milwaukee into the national spotlight. During the Republican National Convention, five Columbus, Ohio, police department members shot and killed 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe. The out of police officers were providing extra security.
According to Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, Sharpe was wielding two knives and ignored commands to drop them before charging at an unarmed individual. The incident sparked outrage among Milwaukee residents and activists, who are questioning the presence of out-of-state officers in their community.
The shooting occurred near King Park, approximately a mile from the convention site. Police released body camera footage showing officers on bikes talking before one of them warns the others, “He’s got a knife.” As officers approached the scene, they repeatedly ordered Sharpe to drop the knives. When he moved towards an unarmed man, officers opened fire. Two knives were recovered from the scene.
Chief Norman defended the actions of the Columbus officers, stating, “Someone’s life was in danger. These officers, who were not from this area, took it upon themselves to act and save someone’s life today.” He emphasized that the officers only fired after Sharpe ignored multiple commands and posed an imminent threat to another individual.
The shooting has raised questions about the deployment of out-of-state police officers in Milwaukee, a city already grappling with social and economic challenges. Thousands of officers from various jurisdictions are in Milwaukee to bolster security for the Republican National Convention. Despite assurances from the Columbus Division of Police and Milwaukee officials that the shooting was unrelated to the convention, local residents remain skeptical.
Following the shooting, around 100 people gathered for a vigil and march, pausing for a moment of silence at the site where Sharpe was killed. Linda Sharpe, a cousin of the deceased, voiced the community’s anguish and anger, saying, “They came into our community and shot down our family right here at a public park. What are you doing in our city, shooting people down?”
Samuel Sharpe had been living in a tent encampment across the street from King Park, an area familiar to local residents and Milwaukee police officers. Community members argue that local officers, more familiar with the neighborhood and its residents, might have been able to de-escalate the situation. David Porter, a friend of Sharpe and fellow encampment resident, expressed frustration, stating, “If MPD would have been there, that man would still be alive right now.”
The Columbus police unit had been visibly active in guiding protests earlier in the week, with officers wearing blue vests marked “Columbus Police Dialogue.” However, the fatal shooting has overshadowed these efforts, drawing criticism from those who see it as an unnecessary and tragic escalation.
Chief Norman explained that the Columbus officers were part of a bicycle patrol within their assigned zone when they witnessed the altercation between Sharpe and the unarmed man. He reiterated that the officers acted to protect life, saying, “This is a situation where somebody’s life was in immediate danger.”
As the investigation continues, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office has scheduled an autopsy for Wednesday. In the meantime, the community grapples with the aftermath of the shooting and its implications for the future of policing in Milwaukee.
For many Milwaukee residents, the presence of out-of-state officers and the resulting fatal shooting have intensified existing concerns about police accountability and community safety. As the city navigates this latest crisis, the call for meaningful dialogue and reform grows louder, echoing the sentiments of communities across the nation.