The homeless man outside the Republican National Convention on Tuesday appeared to be as he tried to attack another person, as seen in bodycam . The 43-year-old suspect, identified as Samuel Sharpe Jr., by quick-thinking police officers from Columbus, Ohio, who were helping with security at the event in Milwaukee, Wis.
The incident didn’t appear to be connected to the political gathering, where prominent GOP figures including and his newly announced have been present throughout the week. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman after Tuesday’s shooting to quell concerns about the local man being gunned down by cops from another state. “These officers, who were not from this area, took it upon themselves to act and save someone’s life today,” he told reporters.
The bodycam video shows the alleged assailant lunging at his adversary with a knife in his right hand. Columbus Police Department officers can be heard shouting “Drop the knife!” as they charge toward the suspect and his apparent target. The Columbus Division of Police said it released the bodycam video for the sake of transparency.
“The incident took place in the outer perimeter of the RNC, within the operational zone to which our officers were assigned,” Ohio officials said in statement. “CPD officers encountered an armed individual threatening another person and subsequently discharged their weapons.” Video obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shows rushing to where the shooting took place ab.
