MILWAUKEE — Five Columbus Division of Police officers providing security near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week discharged their firearms, fatally shooting a man wielding a knife Tuesday.
The shooting happened just after 1 p.m. about a mile from the Fiserv Forum, in the outer perimeter of the RNC where the officers were assigned, Columbus police said in a statement.
Milwaukee Police Department Chief Jeffrey Norman said in a press conference that 13 uniformed Columbus officers assigned to bicycle patrol were talking over daily events and being briefed in their assigned zone when they observed a 43-year-old man with a knife in each hand. The man was fighting with another unarmed individual.
The officers identified themselves to the man and made several commands to him to drop the knives, Norman said. The man allegedly refused the commands and charged at the individual. Norman said at that time, five officers discharged their firearms, fatally striking the man.
Two knives were recovered at the scene. No officers were injured in the incident.
Columbus police released body camera video Tuesday evening showing the seconds leading up to the fatal shooting. Police Chief Elaine Bryant said to avoid compromising the integrity of the active investigation, the Public Records Unit will release the remaining videos in accordance with the investigation.
Columbus police release bodycam of officers firing shots at knife-wielding man near RNC in Milwaukee
"They had been here for a couple of days and understanding that there was something that happened right in front of them, at the time they were talking to each other and this event unfolded in front of them," Norman said. "In fact, this is a situation where somebody's life was in immediate danger. Again, two knives were recovered from this particular situation, someone's life was in danger, these officers who are not from this area took upon themselves to act to save someone's life today."
Columbus police, as well as the chief of staff for Milwaukee's mayor and a spokeswoman for the convention’s joint command center, all said there was nothing to suggest the shooting was related to the convention itself.
The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is actively investigating.
RELATED: Dozens of Columbus police officers working security at Republican National Convention in Milwaukee
About 40 Columbus police officers left Saturday morning for Milwaukee to add a bigger police presence for the RNC.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 9 Vice President Pete Casuccio said the team consists of front-line officers, dialogue officers and officers who are bike-trained.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has also sent about 40 troopers to Milwaukee to help with security as well.
Milwaukee resident angered by shooting
Milwaukee residents quickly came to the site of the shooting, many angry that a police department in town because of the convention was involved. Dozens of police officers were also on the scene.
Kenneth Johnson, a volunteer with Friends Without Shelter, said the area is well known among locals for its homeless population that sleep in tents in a nearby lot — and questioned what an out-of-state officer had been doing at the location.
“They shouldn’t have jurisdiction to be in this area. This isn’t near where the zones are,” Johnson said. “These are tent communities over here, they shouldn’t be over here.”
This is a developing story. Stick with 10TV News for any updates.
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