Ohio police officer shoots man near 14th and Vliet in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – A man was killed by a Columbus, Ohio police officer just blocks from the RNC security perch at the corner of 14th and Vliet.

Milwaukee Street Angels, an organization that works with the homeless, told TMJ4 that the victim is a 43-year-old homeless man.

A surveillance video appears to show the shooting in the middle of Vliet St.:

Surveillance video shows police shooting at the corner of 14th and Vliet

In the video, two men are seen on the street and several Columbus PD officers are following them with their guns drawn. Then, one of the men is seen falling to the ground.

TMJ4 spoke to two people who said they witnessed the shooting, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, July 16.

They told TMJ4 they saw a man walking across Vliet St. and said police followed him across the street and shot the man in the back.

According to witnesses, the man was living with them in a nearby homeless camp and was about to cross the street when police shot him.

They say they heard about six or seven shots and that several police officers may have fired their weapons.

VIDEO: Hear witness accounts of the shooting near 14th & Vliet

VIDEO: Hear witness accounts of the shooting near 14th & Vliet

TMJ4 has not confirmed this information.

According to the Milwaukee County Coroner’s Office, an autopsy on the man is scheduled for Wednesday.

VIDEO: Telephone interview with a former Wisconsin state legislator

VIDEO: Telephone interview with a former Wisconsin state legislator

The corner of 14th Street and Vliet Street is near the Republican National Convention security perimeter, but we have no reason to believe this incident is connected to the events at the RNC.

TMJ4 News

The Fraternal Order of Police for the Columbus area issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying no officers were injured.

According to the statement, Columbus police officers, as well as numerous officers from multiple jurisdictions across the country, are in Milwaukee to assist Milwaukee police with security measures for the RNC.

Dr. Melinda Brennan, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, issued the following statement on the shooting:

“We are aware of the fatal shooting of a civilian by Columbus, Ohio police that occurred in the King Park neighborhood, approximately one mile from the Fiserv Forum, well outside the RNC’s security perimeter. While we await further details, we call for a full and transparent investigation into the exact cause of the shooting, including the swift release of all bodycam footage pertaining to the encounter. More than 4,000 additional police officers are in Milwaukee for the RNC, and we have long feared that this heavy police presence could increase the risk of deadly encounters with police, particularly by officers from out of state who do not know and are not accountable to our community. We extend our condolences to the friends and family of the person killed.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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