Man shot near Republican convention before Florida senators, governor speaks. What we know
Five Columbus police officers in Milwaukee as part of the city's heightened security efforts for the 2024 Republican National Convention shot and killed a homeless man just outside the security perimeter Tuesday, according to the president of the police union.
Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, said Tuesday evening that a man was waving knives at other people and/or police when Columbus officers shot the individual, whom residents say had been homeless and living in a tent. The five officers involved are being sent back to Columbus, he said.
Several high-profile Florida politicians were in town Tuesday as scheduled evening speakers, including Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Dr. Ben Carson.
The theme for Tuesday's speakers was "Make America Safe Once Again."
Who was killed in 2024 RNC shooting?
Multiple witnesses told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the man lived in a tent encampment, was known by the nickname "Jehovah" and took care of a pit bull named Isis. Police have not released the man's identity but escorted the dog from the encampment around 2:30 p.m. local time, according to the Sentinel.
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Several dozen Columbus officers, including the Division of Police's dialogue team, are in Milwaukee, as are officers from 62 other departments in 24 states and Washington, D.C., along with 44 Wisconsin agencies.
Where was someone shot at the RNC?
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the shooting occurred near North 14th and West Vliet streets outside of the security perimeter for the Republican National Convention.
How tight is security at the 2024 RNC?
The 2024 RNC runs from Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18 at the Fiserv Forum convention site in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with some events taking place at the nearby Baird Center and other local venues.
Security for the convention includes two perimeters. The "hard zone," or the area controlled by the Secret Service that will require credentials to enter, surrounds Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center.
Around that is a larger "pedestrian restricted perimeter" that stretches from West McKinley Avenue on the north to just past West Wisconsin Avenue to the south. The area encompasses Pere Marquette Park on the east side and stretches past North James Lovell Street on the west.
According to WISN 12 News sources, the police line has been expanded to 17th and Vliet streets.
Bethany Bruner, Bailey Gallion, Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch contributed to this story.