5 Columbus police officers who killed homeless man near Milwaukee RNC identified

Columbus police released the names of the five officers who fired on a man armed with two knives near the Republican National Convention Tuesday in Milwaukee.

The department also released additional body camera footage from each of the five officers who were assisting Milwaukee police with security at the RNC. While it didn't directly identify the officers, each of the files released includes the names of the officers in the file names. They are:

• Austin Enos, who joined the Columbus Division of Police in 2022
• Adam Groves, who joined in 2011
• Canaan Dick, who joined in 2022
• Karl Eiginger, who joined in 2022
• Nicholas Mason, who joined in 2007

The officers shot and killed Samuel Sharpe near North 14th and West Vliet streets, just under a mile from the security perimeter for the Republican National Convention. Body camera footage previously released by Columbus police appears to show Sharpe approaching another man with a knife in each hand.

Sharpe was a homeless man who lived in a nearby tent encampment and was known by several members of local mutual aid organizations.

The Dispatch has requested personnel files and disciplinary records for all the officers involved. Columbus police ordered the officers to return to Columbus from their RNC assignment following the shooting. Another 35 remain in Milwaukee.

As part of their agreement to provide security, officers are required to sign an agreement that says they "have not been sued in an individual capacity and adjudicated as liable for violations of the U.S. Constitution or have sustained complaints for the use of excessive, unreasonable or unnecessary force within the last five years."Court records show that Groves was one of six officers sued in 2016 by a man accusing Columbus police of wrongful arrest and excessive use of force while the man was detained in 2014 during a burglary investigation.

According to the lawsuit, Groves used pepper spray or mace to subdue the man while he was handcuffed, however, Groves and the city maintained the man was resisting arrest and was not handcuffed when they used the chemical spray. The man settled the lawsuit with the city for $45,000 in 2020 without admitting guilt.

Mason fatally shot a man in 2017 during a traffic stop. Mason and other officers attempted to arrest the man, who accelerated and dragged Mason alongside the car. Mason shot the man during the encounter. A grand jury determined no charges should be filed against Mason.

What does body camera footage show?

A large group of bicycle officers received a briefing about potential protest activities that could disrupt the convention when officers noticed a commotion in a nearby parking lot.

“He’s got a knife,” several officers said.

“Does he really?” another asked.

“Yes, he does,” someone else replied.

The officers ran toward the commotion as someone yelled, “Hey! Hey!” Officers yelled, “drop the knife.”

When the officers reached the parking lot, one man appeared to be chasing another with two knives. The officers fired several shots in quick succession and struck the armed man later identified as Sharpe.

Police placed the other man in handcuffs and asked him questions, though it isn’t clear what the man said because the department redacted all of the audio of him speaking.

Sharpe lay on the ground with blood visible on his face and torso. Officers placed him in handcuffs and said he had multiple gunshot wounds and wasn’t breathing. They put on gloves and began working to place tourniquets and locate wounds.

“Keep breathing, man. Keep breathing,” one officer said.

In the background, several emergency vehicles can be heard arriving.

A group of agitated onlookers gathered as another group of officers taped off the scene. It’s difficult to discern most of what they said in the chaotic audio, but they appear angry with the police.

“That man didn’t do (expletive) to nobody!” one man yelled. He and a woman continued shouting at police as they worked.

Another onlooker restrained a man to keep him from approaching an officer.

After police secured the scene, the officer who was giving the initial briefing gathered the officers who fired.

“We are not talking about anything,” he told them. “Do not communicate anything on the phone. Body cameras still on until we’re told otherwise.”

Officers providing mutual aid for the convention are required to follow the Milwaukee Police Department's standard operating procedures on use of force, crowd control and rules of engagement. According to an agreement signed by partner agencies, any disciplinary matters that arise with an outside officer will be referred to the home agency.

If the matter rises to the level of probable cause for a crime, it will be referred directly to Milwaukee police or an external law enforcement agency for investigation "with appropriate notice to Contractor," according to the agreement.