Police in Milwaukee arrest armed man wearing ski mask outside RNC
- Police say they observed a 'suspicious' man walking near the RNC venue
- Suspect was armed and did not have a concealed carry permit, police said
- Arrest comes day after Ohio police shot knife-wielding man near convention
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(NewsNation) — Police in Milwaukee arrested an armed man wearing a ski mask a few blocks outside of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday.
A 21-year-old Donnell Tinsley was taken into custody around after authorities observed him “looking suspicious” and carrying a large tactical backpack outside of the security zone at Fiserv Forum, where thousands are attending the conference, the Milwaukee Police Department said in a statement to NewsNation.
Agents with the United States Capitol Police and Homeland Security Investigations said they observed a “large bulge in the waistband area of Tinsley’s pants” when they approached him and asked if he had a weapon, which he denied, court records stated.
The officers “immediately observed Tinsley’s hands shaking, and Tinsley began to look left and right” during their interaction and the officers asked if he would agree to a search, according to records.
He consented to a pat-down and, according to court records, police found:
- A concealed AK-47 pistol
- A fully loaded magazine containing rifle ammunition
- A “Scream” movie mask
- A flashlight
- Two sets of black gloves with rubber fingertips
- Sunglasses
- An Allied Universal Security uniform shirt
- Two cans of spray paint
- Multiple empty designer marijuana bags
Tinsley was taken into custody after he admitted and officers confirmed he did not have a concealed carry permit in Wisconsin or any other state, court records show.
He has been charged with one count of carrying a concealed weapon by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
The arrest came one day after Ohio police officers stationed in Milwaukee for the convention shot and killed a man who was wielding two knives near the arena.
Five members of the Columbus, Ohio, police department fired on the man, who had a knife in each hand, refused police commands and charged at an unarmed man before police fired, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said at a news conference.
Two knives were recovered from the scene, authorities said.
Thousands of officers from multiple jurisdictions are in Milwaukee providing additional security for the convention, which is slated to run until Thursday.
Milwaukee residents and activists quickly converged on the site of the shooting, many of them expressing outrage about the involvement of a police department in town because of the convention.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.