Man shot dead by police outside Republican National Convention event

Drama has engulfed the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee, with a man shot dead by police just outside the security zone.

A man has been shot dead by police near the site of the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee, hours after former US president Donald Trump made a dramatic first appearance since his near-assassination.

Witnesses reported seeing a man wielding two knives and swinging them towards police before he was shot dead by an officer.

The incident happened in the neighbourhood of King Park, “about a mile” from the security zone surrounding the Republican National Convention (RNC) headquarters, a person attending the event told news.com.au.

The crime scene where a man was shot and killed by police in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Picture: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images via AFP

The incident happened outside the security zone for the Republican National Convention held in the city this week. Picture: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images via AFP

The Ohio-based officer who shot the knife-wielding man was part of a 4500-strong police contingent in Milwaukee to help with security at the Republican convention.

The incident is not believed to be connected with the event.

The man who was shot dead reportedly lived at a nearby homeless encampment.

The conference, which started days after the shooting at a Donald Trump rally, has attracted a heavy police security presence. Picture: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images via AFP

People attend the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Picture: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP

Alexi Worley, a spokeswoman for the US Secret Service, told the New York Times the shooting happened outside the RNC’s security perimeter and was under the jurisdiction of local police.

It comes just three days after 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper after he opened fire at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is greeted by excited supporters at the convention. Picture: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP

Trump with his pick for vice president, Ohio senator JD Vance. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

The former president was wounded in the ear, while a supporter in the audience was killed and two others were injured.

Yesterday, Trump received a hero’s welcome from MAGA supporters at the Republican convention when he made his first appearance since the shooting with a bandage covering his ear and followed closely by security guards.

Earlier at the convention, Ohio senator and former “never Trumper” JD Vance was revealed to be Trump’s running mate and choice for vice president in his bid to return to the White House.

Mr Vance is expected to address the convention on Wednesday, US time, while Trump will close out the event on Thursday (Friday morning AEST).