A man was shot and killed by police officers in a residential neighborhood in Milwaukee, about a mile from the Republican National Convention, an official who had been briefed on the situation said. The officers were from the Columbus, Ohio, police department, part of a contingent of 4,500 officers from other municipalities who came to Milwaukee to assist local authorities in securing the city during the convention.
The police officers were riding bicycles on patrol when they encountered the man armed with a knife. According to one official, at least three officers fired shots after the man turned towards them with the knife. The shooting took place in the King Park neighborhood, near a Milwaukee County social services building, a community center, and a correctional facility.
Karen Domagalski, operations manager for the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, confirmed that her office responded to the area after the death. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Wednesday. Alexi Worley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Secret Service, declined to comment, stating that the shooting occurred outside of the security perimeter and was under the jurisdiction of local police.
The Republican convention began in Milwaukee on Monday, attracting around 50,000 people from across the country to nominate former President Donald J. Trump for the presidency. On Tuesday afternoon, police had cordoned off the area of the shooting to onlookers and news media.
Residents of the neighborhood, Christina Kugler, 37, and Mark Walker, 49, mentioned they lived in a homeless encampment where the man who was shot also lived. Mr. Walker expressed his confusion as to why his friend was shot, mentioning that he was a quiet individual. He heard about seven shots during the incident.
Milwaukee has been grappling with violent crime for some time, although the number of homicides in the city has been decreasing. The city reported 172 criminal homicides last year, down from 215 in 2022. This year, Milwaukee is on track to have 19 percent fewer homicides than in 2023 and 41 percent fewer than in 2022.
Aurelia Ceja, 26, a leader of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, raised concerns about the presence of thousands of police officers from out of state assisting with convention security. She questioned the use of deadly force in this situation.
In conclusion, the fatal shooting of a man by police officers near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee has sparked questions and concerns among residents and community activists. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation, with authorities working to determine the events leading up to the tragic incident.