Terrifying bodycam shows moment police shoot and kill armed suspect just outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

Chilling bodycam footage captured Ohio police fatally shooting an armed suspect outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Columbus police, who were in Wisconsin to help provide extra security for the event following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, were seen in the footage gathering in a parking lot less than a mile from the venue on Tuesday.

One of the officers on the scene was giving a briefing on the abortion protests outside the convention grounds. He noted that the two sides were “clashing around” and that there were “things that were directed at the event,” when someone shouted, “He’s got a knife, yes.”

The other officers turned around and saw a shirtless man with two knives in his hand. They ran after him, yelling, ‘Hey, drop your knife, drop your knife.’

The man, who has since been identified as Samuel Sharpe Jr., appeared to pause before lunging at another shirtless man holding knives in both hands.

The officers then opened fire and Sharpe Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting is not believed to be related to Congress, but police are on heightened alert after the attempted shooting on Trump over the weekend.

Columbus Mayor Anthony J. Ginther said the police department decided to release the body camera footage in the interest of transparency, saying it “demonstrates that Columbus officers acted in accordance with their training to prevent physical harm to a potential victim.” reports the Columbus Dispatch.

“Columbus officers were guests in Milwaukee, but they take an oath to protect and serve, wherever and whenever they are called upon to serve,” he said, adding that the city will support “a full and thorough investigation into the events that occurred, consistent with local policy and law.”

“We will leave it to the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team to provide further updates on the status of the investigation,” the mayor said.

In support of the Milwaukee Police Department, Columbus officers were required to adhere to standard use of force procedures.

The five officers involved in the shooting have been sent back to Ohio.

If a crime is suspected, it will be immediately referred to the Milwaukee Police Department or an outside law enforcement agency for investigation.

Initial reports indicated the dead man was homeless, had been involved in a fight with another homeless man and was using crack cocaine.

Witnesses said the man was known by the nickname “Jehovah” and lived in a camp with dozens of other homeless people.

Shelly Sarasin, co-founder and director of Street Angels, said her outreach group goes to the camp every Monday with mobile shower units.

Sharpe, who friends said was a homeless veteran in his 40s, started showering in April and decided to do so the day before he was fatally shot.

When he left the facility, Sarasin said Sharpe kept saying, “I love you guys.

“We may be the last people he said that to,” said Sarasin, who added that his death will have a major impact on the approximately 70 other homeless people in the area.

“He was a person. He was a human being,” she said.

“For those who knew him and still live here, this is one trauma on top of another.”

The shooting occurred outside the Secret Service guard area, near a social services building, in the early afternoon.

More than 100 officers responded to the crime scene near North 14th and West Vliet Streets.

The theme of the convention was “Make America Safe Again.”

It came just days after a would-be assassin shot Trump in the ear at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The shooter, Thomas Crooks, 20, was shot dead by Secret Service. One rally attendee died and two others were wounded.

Less than 24 hours after the shooting, Trump decided he would go full speed ahead to Milwaukee for the convention.

He will end the week as the official GOP presidential candidate.

The U.S. Secret Service is requiring protesters and others planning to demonstrate at the convention to register and sign up for the Demonstration Speakers Platform and Parade Route.

Registered persons must remain within the designated First Amendment area.

The Parade Route allows groups to mobilise and march to make their views known, while the Speakers Platform provides an opportunity for protesters to make comments and speeches about their cause.

According to the USSS, the platform and parade route are “within both sight and sound range of the Republican National Convention.”

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley told Fox News Sunday that “in terms of the physical sense, the arena is ready. The security is here.”

“We feel good about working with the Secret Service and 40 different law enforcement agencies to determine what that security is going to look like,” he added.

During a press conference on Sunday, the USSS said: “We are making no changes to our operational security plans for this event.”

“We are confident in the plans we have and we are moving forward with them,” they added.