A man arrested on Monday close to the venue of the Republican national convention in Milwaukee had a concealed AK-47 pistol, a fully loaded rifle magazine, a flashlight and black gloves, and a mask from the slasher movie Scream inside his backpack, a court document has revealed.
Donnell Tinsley, 21, was spotted by a special agent for homeland security about two blocks away from the secure outer perimeter of the Republican convention venue, Fiserv Forum, on Monday. That same day Donald Trump made his first public appearance at the convention following the attempt on his life by a gunman in Pennsylvania.
Tinsley was wearing a ski mask and black gloves, and carrying a large backpack which hung low at his waist, suggesting to law enforcement officers that it was heavy. When he was first questioned by officers, he denied that he was in possession of firearms.
But when they searched the bag, the agents immediately found a concealed gun. Tinsley did not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and was taken into custody.
The court document, a criminal complaint filed on Wednesday by the Milwaukee county district attorney’s office, disclosed other items in the backpack. They included two cans of spray paint, sunglasses and several empty bags for storing marijuana.
Agents also reported that Tinsley had two cellphones in his pockets.
Tinsley is now facing one misdemeanor charge and could face up to nine months in prison with an additional $10,000 fine, the complaint said.
Security at the convention has been reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump will make his prime-time speech at the convention on Thursday.
He has appeared at the convention wearing a bandage on his right ear where a bullet struck him. The unusual sight has become a visual meme, with many delegates to the convention wearing mocked-up ear bandages in a display of sympathy.
On Tuesday, a man said to be holding two knives, was shot and killed by police about a mile from the convention center. Authorities said it was unrelated to the Republican event.
The weapon concealed in Tinsley’s backpack is known as a Draco AK-47 pistol. It has a short barrel and compact design, and was originally produced in Romania.
It was inspired by the AK-47, the assault rifle developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. An American equivalent of the AK-47, the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, has become one of the most popular firearms in America and was used in the assassination attempt against Trump.
Tinsley remains in custody and faces up to nine months in prison for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
