Suspect ‘swinging’ knives ‘heard voices’ before being shot dead by cops near RNC: sources, witnesses
MILWAUKEE — A knife-wielding homeless man who allegedly “heard voices” was shot dead outside the Republican National Convention Tuesday — marking the second fatality at a GOP event in days.
A witness at the scene told The Post that the man was swinging two steak knives at police about five blocks away from the GOP event’s headquarters — just two hours before the nation’s leading party members were slated to take the stage.
“He had this look in his eyes that was nothing I’ve ever seen before in four months of knowing him,” said Edward Watkins, a fellow homeless man who claimed to be the victim’s best friend.
Several eyewitnesses said the victim was “shot in the back” while he was trying to run away from security. At least eight gunshots were heard, with some claiming the bullets came from up to eight police officers.
“Multiple officers” from Columbus, Ohio — who were called in as extra security for the GOP event — fired their weapons, a spokesperson from the branch’s Fraternal Order of Police said at a press conference.
Police had few details about the events leading up to the fatal shooting, but said the victim was “swinging knives at an individual and or the officers.”
Bodycam footage of the shooting showed 13 Columbus officers standing in a circle discussing “pro-abortion and anti-abortion” when one of the men suddenly noticed an ongoing commotion.
“He has a knife! Yes, he does!” the officer shouts as the group of cops barrels toward the victim and a second man, both of whom were shirtless and standing in the middle of the street.
Multiple officers can be heard shouting, “Drop your knife.”
Instead, the victim rushes toward the second man, prompting officers to immediately fire their weapons.
The victim was killed. Officials have only identified him as a 43-year-old man from Milwaukee.
Alexi Worley, a spokesperson in the convention’s joint command center, said there was nothing to suggest the shooting was related to the convention itself.
Watkins told The Post that the suspect was homeless — and there is a large “tent city” in the area.
He identified the dead man as “Sam,” but said he was known to others in the encampment as “Jehovah,” referring to a voice Sam heard in his head.
It was known in the community that Sam “wanted to die,” Watkins said, adding that “Jehovah” made frequent appearances in the past few days.
“He just told me he was having these thoughts in his head. And he said, “Jehovah’s coming down.” And I believed him, because I hear voices, too,” Watkins said.
“So when he ran toward the front with the knives, I knew he was ready to go.”
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Watkins claimed Sam wasn’t waving the knives at police or trying to engage with them when he was gunned down.
The grieving man did not know Sam’s last name and said that the two only knew one another for four months. Both lived in the tent city and did crack cocaine together, he said.
“That’s what we love to do. When we’re in Tent City, we feel we’re free,” Watkins said.
Milwaukee officials could not confirm the identity of the victim, though the county medical examiner confirmed an adult male was shot and killed.
The shooting comes just three days after former President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated in a shooting on Saturday. There has been a heavy police presence at the RNC throughout the week.
This a developing story. Please check back for more updates.