Released bodycam footage showed officers responding with lethal force to an incident involving a man wielding knives near the Republican National Convention that had a relative crying self-defense.
(Video: Columbus Police Department)
Mere days after the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, heightened security covering the nominating convention for the Republican Party included utilizing resources from outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As such, officers from Ohio’s Columbus Police Department were seen responding to an altercation near the perimeter of the RNC on Tuesday.
Footage compiled from multiple bodycams showed that the officers were being relayed instructions when they noticed two men arguing on the street where one, later identified as 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe, was said to be wielding knives in both his hands.
“Drop the knives!” officers shouted as they ran toward the threat.
In the video, Sharpe appeared to make a lunging motion toward the other man before officers discharged their weapons.
When the fatally wounded man had fallen to the ground, one of the officers could be heard shouting, “Hold fire!” before both men were seen being handcuffed and the first responders attended the wounds.
“You’re alright. Hang in there,” said one of the officers in the released footage before it was detailed, “We have a male pulseless and not breathing.”
After the incident, officers were seen being told, “We are not to talk about anything, do you understand? Do not communicate anything on the phone. Body cameras still on until we’re told otherwise.”
Following the incident that had inspired demonstrations Thursday in Milwaukee, Sharpe’s brother told Fox 6 that he did not believe his sibling, who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and had chosen to live homeless, was the aggressor.
“I believe my brother was defending himself. If anything, he was defending himself. If you’ve ever seen someone with advanced MS, it’s very laborious to walk, anything like that,” he explained. “It’s like putting a child against an adult. A toddler that barely knows how to walk. He ain’t going to get away. The man that was in the video knew all of that information as well.”
Meanwhile, a statement from the Columbus Division of Police detailed hours after the incident, “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,” the statement continued and added, “At this time, it does not appear that this incident was related to the convention. The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is actively investigating. At this time, any additional questions should be directed to the Milwaukee Police Department.”
A statement from the Columbus Division of Police regarding the officer-involved shooting, involving CPD officers, that took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/ZpjpMU9Skx
— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) July 16, 2024
While Tuesday’s incident was believed unrelated to threats to members of the GOP, reports indicated a man identified as Michael W. Wiseman was arrested by the Jupiter Police Department Friday in Florida and taken into custody after threats against Trump, his running mate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and their families were made on Facebook “concerning bodily harm.”
The Associated Press indicated, “The investigation was conducted in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, police said.” Wiseman was taken into custody and was being held at the Palm Beach County Jail.
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Body cam shows Dem city councilwoman assaulting federal officers, impeding arrest of illegal alien - May 17, 2025
- GOP lawmakers move to blacklist James Comey from ever holding another federal gig - May 17, 2025
- ‘Unfit to lead’: James Comer to question Biden senior staff in new Autopen probe - May 17, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.