In a tragic incident near the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin, police officers from Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed a man who was wielding two knives. The Milwaukee Chief of Police, Jeffrey Norman, confirmed that the man charged at an unarmed individual despite police commands to drop the weapons, leading to officers firing their weapons in response.

The confrontation unfolded when officers on bikes encountered the armed man. Body camera footage released by the police showed the moment when one of the officers alerted the presence of a knife. As multiple officers yelled for the man to drop the knife, they sprinted towards him and the unarmed individual. In the interest of protecting someone's life, the officers took immediate action, according to Chief Norman.

The incident occurred just a mile away from the convention site, prompting residents to question the presence of out-of-state officers in their neighborhood. Thousands of officers from various jurisdictions were in Milwaukee to provide additional security for the convention, which began on Monday and will conclude on Thursday. However, officials from the Columbus Division of Police, as well as the chief of staff for Milwaukee's mayor and a spokesperson for the convention's joint command center, emphasized that there was no indication the shooting was related to the convention itself.

The man killed in the shooting has been identified as Samuel Sharpe, 43, according to his cousin and other individuals. Outrage was expressed by Milwaukee residents and activists who quickly gathered at the shooting site. A vigil and march, involving around 100 people, were held peacefully on Tuesday night. The group paused for a moment of silence at the spot where Sharpe lost his life, expressing their anger about the involvement of the police department from another city.

Linda Sharpe, the cousin of the deceased, expressed her grief, questioning why officers from out of town were shooting people in their city. Samuel Sharpe had been living in a tent encampment across the street from King Park, where the shooting took place. The encampment, a long-standing feature of the neighborhood which houses social service clinics and a shelter, is known to some Milwaukee police officers who are familiar with its residents. Some community members argue that officers familiar with the area and its residents could have deescalated the situation.

David Porter, a homeless individual who knew Samuel Sharpe, blamed the presence of officers from outside Milwaukee for the tragic outcome. He argued that if the Milwaukee Police Department had been present, Sharpe might still be alive today.

Chief Norman provided further details, explaining that the officers from Columbus, who were on bicycle patrol and responsible for improving police-community relationships, witnessed the altercation while having a meeting within their assigned zone. Norman confirmed that the officers saw a man armed with knives engaged in a confrontation with an unarmed individual. Despite multiple commands to drop the knives, the armed man ignored the warnings and moved menacingly towards the unarmed person, prompting the officers to open fire.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office scheduled an autopsy for Wednesday to further investigate the incident. The shooting occurred near King Park, an area where a small group of protesters gathered before marching on Monday. The presence of Columbus police officers during the protests, focused on fostering dialogue between the police and the community, had been notable.

As investigations continue, questions linger regarding the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting. The incident has reignited debates about the presence of out-of-state police officers in local communities and the best ways to ensure public safety during large-scale events like the Republican National Convention.