Ohio police officers in Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention shot and killed a man who was wielding two knives near the convention, Milwaukee’s police chief said on Tuesday, while in Australia, Jack Black canceled Tenacious D’s tour over a jibe directed at former US president Donald Trump.
The Milwaukee incident follows the attempted assassination of Trump, who is attending the convention, although police said that Tuesday’s incident was not linked to the event.
Five members of the Columbus, Ohio, police department fired on the man, who had a knife in each hand, refused police commands and charged at an unarmed man before police fired, Milwaukee Chief Jeffrey Norman told a news conference.
Photo: Reuters / @_esilemx
Two knives were recovered from the scene, Norman said.
Police released body camera footage that showed officers on bikes talking before one of them says: “He’s got a knife.”
Several officers then yell: “Drop the knife” as they run toward two men standing in a street, the footage showed.
When the armed man moved toward the unarmed man, police fired their weapons, it showed.
“Someone’s life was in danger,” Norman said. “These officers, who were not from this area, took it upon themselves to act and save someone’s life today.”
Thousands of officers from multiple jurisdictions are in Milwaukee providing additional security for the convention that began Monday and concludes today.
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, all said there was nothing to suggest the shooting was related to the convention itself.
A cousin and others identified the man killed as 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe.
Milwaukee residents and rights advocates converged on the site of the shooting, many of them expressing outrage about the involvement of a police department in town because of the convention.
About 100 people held a vigil and march on Tuesday night, pausing for a moment of silence at the blood-stained spot where Sharpe was killed.
“They came into our community and shot down our family right here at a public park,” said Linda Sharpe, a cousin of the man who was killed. “What are you doing in our city, shooting people down?”
Linda Sharpe said that her cousin lived in a tent encampment across the street from King Park, where the shooting occurred.
Residents said the encampment was a long-standing feature of the neighborhood, which is home to several social service clinics and a shelter.
Some said that Milwaukee police officers are familiar with many of those living in the tents and might have de-escalated the situation.
David Porter, who said he knew Samuel Sharpe and is also homeless, was angry that officers from outside of Milwaukee were in his neighborhood.
“If MPD would have been there, that man would still be alive right now,” Porter said, referring to Milwaukee police.
Separately, Tenacious D frontman Jack Black has canceled the comedy-rock group’s tour of Australia and New Zealand after his bandmate quipped on stage about the attempted assassination of Trump on Saturday last week.
Guitarist Kyle Gass said “don’t miss Trump next time” when asked to make a birthday wish while playing a packed gig in Sydney over the weekend, part of the band’s “Spicy Meatball” tour.
While the jibe drew laughter and applause from the crowd, it swiftly sparked controversy when posted online.
“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” said Black, a Hollywood funnyman who starred in films such as High Fidelity and Kung Fu Panda.
“After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold,” he said on Instagram late on Tuesday.
Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd said that the comment made him “feel sick.”
“People might think it’s a bit of ‘funny haha’ at a concert, but it’s not,” Rudd said. :These people should just grow up and find a decent job.”
Four remaining shows in Australia have been canceled along with two dates in New Zealand, management company Frontier Touring said in a statement yesterday.
“Frontier Touring regret to advise that the remaining dates of Tenacious D’s tour of Australia and New Zealand have been canceled,” it said. “All purchased tickets will receive a full refund.”
Gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday — a near-miss assassination attempt that left Trump bleeding from his right ear.
Additional reporting by AFP
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