Man arrested blocks from Fiserv Forum was carrying an AK-47 pistol, police say

Maia Pandey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read
1

A 21-year-old man arrested blocks from the Republican National Convention Monday was carrying an AK-47 pistol, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Milwaukee Country District Attorney's office Wednesday.

The man, identified as Donnell V. Tinsley of Milwaukee, was wearing black pants and gloves, a tan sweatshirt, a ski mask and carrying "a large black tactical backpack," according to Milwaukee police. He's charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a Class A misdemeanor.

Tinsley was walking south in the 1200 block of North 11th Street, away from an RNC security checkpoint, when a Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent and a U.S. Capitol Police officer patrolling the area noticed him. The officers stopped him around 10:45 a.m., according to police.

Special Agent Curt Hansen "immediately observed Tinsley's hands shaking" upon speaking with him, according to the complaint.

Hansen asked Tinsley if he was carrying a firearm, the complaint said. "Tinsley stated 'No' and said, 'You can check me, go ahead and look.' SA Hansen asked Tinsley if he would consent to a pat down, and Tinsley stated, 'Yes.'"

Upon searching Tinsley's backpack, officers found the pistol and a fully loaded magazine containing 7.62X39 caliber rifle ammunition. The pistol fires rifle rounds.

They also found a "Scream" movie mask, flashlight, two sets of black gloves with rubber fingertips, sunglasses, an Allied Universal Security uniform shirt, two cans of spray paint and multiple empty marijuana bags, according to the complaint. Tinsley did not have a concealed carry permit for his weapon, police said.

The arrest came just days after shots were fired at former President Donald Trump at his Pennsylvania rally. Officials found an AR-style rifle at the scene of the attempted assassination.

Though Gov. Tony Evers reportedly sought to ban guns within the "soft security perimeter" of the RNC in Milwaukee following the attempted assassination, state law prevented the city or Secret Service from implementing such a rule. Guns are not allowed within the RNC's "hard perimeter," which includes Fiserv Forum, Baird Center and the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Following Monday's arrest, the state would request a "no weapons/no contact order" for Tinsley within the RNC's soft and hard perimeters for the remainder of the convention, Milwaukee police said. The last day of the convention is Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man arrested near RNC venue in Milwaukee with AK-47 pistol, police say