A police officer reportedly shot and killed a man near the Republican National Convention (RNC) venue in downtown Milwaukee on Tuesday afternoon. The incident came after a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The incident occurred near the RNC security perimeter.
Columbus, Ohio, police officers shot and killed a man Tuesday afternoon near 14th and Vliet streets in Milwaukee, about a mile from the Fiserv Forum, the main venue for the RNC.
Witnesses told WISN 12 News that two homeless men were fighting in King Park and one of them pulled out a knife. The witnesses said the men were startled when so many police officers responded. Witnesses said the man with the knife was shot by several officers. This has not yet been confirmed by police.
Two WISN 12 news sources say five officers have been fired.
There is a immense police presence on site, including the Secret Service. Beloit Police assist secure the park.
The area was tightly secured by the police. Over 100 officers on bicycles, on horseback and on foot were on site.
The Milwaukee County Coroner’s Office confirmed the death of an adult male, known by the nickname “Jehovah,” at the scene.
Witnesses, including Christina Kugler and Mark Walker, reported seeing the shooting while Jehovah was on the street. “He lived in one of the tent camps, was known by the nickname Jehovah and was taking care of a dog, a pit bull named Isis,” witnesses told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The shooting sparked a swift backlash from local activists and community members. “It’s really sad, it’s really tragic,” said Father Mike Bertram of Capuchin Community Services. “I hope we can communicate better with law enforcement to tell them … we’re here, we’re ready to help in any way we can to deescalate a situation or just invite somebody (to stay here).”
The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is currently investigating the shooting.
The shooting occurred immediately after Trump’s assassination attempt. Ten minutes into the former president’s speech on Saturday, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, grazing his right ear before being shot by Secret Service agents. Unfortunately, the gunman killed one protester and injured two others before he could be stopped.
The shooter’s motive is not yet clear as authorities are still investigating the incident. The Secret Service has come under fire for failing to stop Crooks from firing into the crowd, even though police had been warned that he was in position on the roof of a building about 400 feet from the stage.
