Fatal shooting of homeless man raises security questions about out-of-state police at RNC

MILWAUKEE – They called him Jehovah.

An unhoused man who one acquaintance described as a “beautiful person,” he lived in one of Milwaukee’s tent encampments and was well known by people in the neighborhood around King Park. They would often see him walking his dog and carrying a Bible.

The man, identified by a cousin as Samuel Sharpe Jr., was shot and killed Tuesday by five police officers from Columbus, Ohio, working as part of the city's security efforts surrounding the Republican National Convention. Body camera video released by authorities showed he was brandishing a knife.

The shooting happened less than a mile from the security perimeter of the convention, which is unfolding amid heightened security following a gunman’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Authorities said the fatal shooting in Milwaukee is unrelated to the convention. But for some residents of the neighborhood, it raises questions about the decision to bring out-of-state police officers into the city to help provide policing for the event.

A Milwaukee police officer “would have known, no, no, no this is King Park, this is a known area for homeless to camp out, lots of folks with mental disabilities in here, tread carefully, de-escalate,” said Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman, who represents the district where the shooting happened.

Out-of-state officers are “in unfamiliar territory and they don’t know King Park from Central Park,” he said.

Columbus police are bringing the five officers involved in the shooting back home, but the other 35 officers the city sent are remaining in Milwaukee, Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, said at a news conference in Ohio.

Steel said the victim was waving knives at other people and/or police when Columbus officers shot him. Steel said he didn’t know if the officers had tried to use de-escalation measures or a stun gun before shooting the man.

Thirteen Columbus police officers were in the area for a briefing when they saw an altercation between two people, one of whom was holding a knife in each hand, according to preliminary information provided by Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman late Tuesday.

The officers ordered the man to drop the knives, he said. The man did not, and then suddenly charged at the other individual, which is when police opened fire, Norman said.

Body-camera video footage and still frames released late Tuesday by Columbus police show the man was still armed with the knives, and lunging toward another man, at the time of the shooting. Police shot him multiple times, killing him, the video shows.

Two knives were recovered at the scene, the chief said.

Norman strongly defended the out-of-state officers involved in the shooting.

"Someone's life was in danger," he said. "These officers who are not from this area took upon themselves to act to save someone's life today."

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said the body-worn camera footage "shows that Columbus' officers in accordance with their training to prevent physical harm to a potential victim."

"Columbus officers were guests in Milwaukee, but they take an oath to protect and serve, wherever and whenever they are called to service," the mayor said.

'I don't understand this': Neighbors critical of out-of-state cops

Police have yet to identify the victim, but a first cousin, Linda Sharpe, told reporters at the scene that he was Samuel Sharpe Jr., who was known by the nickname “Jehovah.”

Eddie Johnson, 55, a friend of the victim, said he was a "beautiful person" who was known to walk his dog and carry a Bible.

"I don't understand this," Johnson said. "He didn't deserve that."

Sharpe stayed at a tent encampment on 14th and Vliet streets, a block away from a temporary shelter set up by the county for people displaced by the Republican convention, said Stephen Bauer, CEO of the Guest House of Milwaukee shelter.

Shelly Sarasin of Street Angels, an outreach group that provides materials for unhoused people staying at the tent encampment, was at a loss for why the Columbus police were in the area.

"Our Milwaukee police officers know about this camp and know about the people staging there and understand the issues that go along with experiencing homelessness," she said. "He didn’t have to be shot… by an officer who wasn’t from here."

Aurelia Ceja of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression criticized that out-of-state police were involved. The group had planned a vigil for late Tuesday.

Vaun Mayes, a prominent community activist, said he was concerned with the plan to bring non-Milwaukee police from “red states” who may not be familiar with Milwaukee communities. He did not think the shooting would’ve happened if it had been Milwaukee police. Mayes is familiar with the neighborhood from his work and dealing with its homeless population. He has successfully de-escalated fights in the area, he said.

Thousands of additional cops in Milwaukee for RNC

Before the convention, Milwaukee officials estimated about 4,000 officers from law enforcement agencies outside the city would take part in policing the city this week.

Milwaukee police had said they intended to assign outside officers to positions that are not public-facing − such as traffic control − while Milwaukee officers would have primary contact with members of the community. Any assignments given to outside officers were supposed to include at least one Milwaukee police officer, according to the mutual aid agreement.

On Tuesday, Norman said Milwaukee police had provided briefings to visiting officers when they arrived. During the short news conference, he did not provide more details about the duties of the outside officers or any supervision the Milwaukee Police Department had over them.

Outside officers in the city providing mutual aid for the convention are required to follow the Milwaukee Police Department's standard operating procedures on the use of force, crowd control and rules of engagement.

According to an agreement signed by partner agencies, any disciplinary matters that arise with an outside officer will be referred to the home agency.

Milwaukee homeless shelter expanded services for RNC

Jehovah was familiar by a different name to Mike Bertram, ministry director for Capuchin Community Services, which runs the St. Ben's Community Meal, a nightly meal for the homeless and hungry.

St. Ben’s has expanded its services this week to be open as a day and overnight shelter to give homeless individuals a safe, cool place to stay as the Republican National Convention may displace some people from their usual spot.

Before the convention, Bertram publicly offered St. Ben’s staff to defuse any conflicts between homeless individuals and police near the security perimeter. In light of the shooting, he’s hoping that more officers reach out.

"We’re here, we’re willing to help in any way that we can," he said.

Near the park at 14th and Vliet, where aging trees shade the grassy slope of King Park as it rises away from the street, Street Angels has been running a free shower program. 

Sharpe showered there Monday, the day before the last day of his life.  

"He told us he loved us like 10 times before he left," Sarasin recalled. "He had an appreciation for what he had. … No one expected it would be like this."

After the shooting, Sarasin watched police take away Sharpe's dog, Ices.

His only companion, she said, no longer has his friend.

John Diedrich, Ashley Luthern, Jessica Van Egeren, Sophie Carson, and David Clarey report for the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal; Bethany Bruner, Bailey Gallion and Shahid Meighan report for The Columbus Dispatch; Michael Loria and Michael Collins report for USA TODAY.