MILWAUKEE, WI – A man was fatally shot by police on Tuesday near Fiserv Forum, the site of the Republican National Convention, Milwaukee authorities confirmed. The Columbus Division of Police, which was assisting with security, stated the incident occurred just outside the convention’s perimeter and did not appear to be related to the event.
The shooting took place shortly after 1 p.m. near the intersection of 13th Street and West Vliet Street, approximately two miles from the convention venue. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman explained that 13 uniformed officers from Columbus, Ohio, were on bike patrol in the area when the incident unfolded.
According to Chief Norman, officers encountered a man wielding a knife in each hand during a confrontation with another individual. Despite multiple commands to drop the weapons, the suspect refused to comply and charged at the other person. Officers then discharged their firearms, striking the suspect.
Witnesses corroborated the police account, with one individual noting that the man resided in a nearby homeless camp and was indeed brandishing a knife. Two knives were recovered at the scene, confirming the officers’ reports.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office verified that an adult male was killed at the location. The area around King Park, where the shooting occurred, was cordoned off by law enforcement, and multiple residents, some claiming to be friends and family of the deceased, gathered seeking answers.
The incident sparked outrage among some protesters who were already demonstrating against the RNC. They criticized the presence of out-of-town police officers, arguing that their involvement contradicted assurances from local authorities to limit outside agency participation.
Chief Norman confirmed that no officers were injured during the altercation. The theme of Tuesday’s RNC events was “Make America Safe Once Again,” a point emphasized by former President Donald Trump in his calls to address crime in Milwaukee.