The Columbus, Ohio, police chief immediately released a body cam video showing that Columbus police officers stopped a knife attack when they shot a man near the RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The dramatic body cam video, which you can watch below, shows that officers witnessed a man with a knife chasing after another man. They shot him to death before he could stab the man he was running after. Be forewarned that the video is graphic.
Although the video shows the officers stopped a man from likely being seriously harmed or killed, making their actions heroic, protests quickly erupted and dominated the website of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which identified the deceased man as Samuel Sharpe Jr., reporting that he lived in a tent city.
Even Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson acknowledged the reality of what unfolded, telling the Journal Sentinel, “The information we have leaves a clear impression that these Columbus officers, they saved the life of an unarmed man from death or perhaps serious injury.”
In a statement, Columbus Police Chief Elaine R. Bryant wrote, “This afternoon, the Columbus Division of Police was made aware of an officer-involved shooting involving CPD officers. The officers involved were in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, assisting the
Milwaukee Police Department with security during the Republican National Convention.”
The incident “took place in the outer perimeter of the RNC, within the operational zone to which our officers were assigned. CPD officers encountered an armed individual threatening another person and subsequently discharged their weapons,” she wrote.
“In the interest of transparency, I am releasing body-worn camera footage of the shooting. I have been in contact with the Milwaukee Police Department to advise them of my decision to release this footage,” Bryant added.
“To avoid compromising the integrity of the active investigation being conducted by the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, the Columbus Division of Police Public Records unit will release the remaining videos in accordance with the investigation,” she added.
Milwaukee police released their own statement. “Today, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at approximately 1:10 p.m., thirteen uniformed Columbus Division of Police officers from Ohio that were assigned to bicycle patrol were briefing with their supervision in their assigned zone,” the release said.
“The briefing was taking place west of 14th and Vliet on the 1400 block for W. Vliet Street. The officers observed a subject armed with a knife in each hand engaged in an altercation with another unarmed individual,” the release said.
“The officers identified themselves as police officers and made several commands to the suspect to drop the knife. The subject refused these commands and charged at the other individual with the knives. At this time, several officers discharged their firearms subsequently striking the suspect,” the release says.
“The suspect is a 43-year-old Milwaukee male who sustained fatal injuries. There were no other reported injuries. Two knives were recovered from the scene,” the MPD says.
“The officers involved in this incident are from the Columbus Division of Police. The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team will be investigating this incident. The Greenfield Police Department will be the lead law enforcement agency in this investigation,” according to the release. “This is a fluid and ongoing investigation.”
