Protesters in Kenosha. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The Wisconsin Department of Justice released its initial account describing the events before and after officers shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, last Sunday evening,
The state of play: The department says officers were sent to a residence after a woman claimed her boyfriend was on the property and was not supposed to be. Officers allegedly tried to arrest Blake, initially using a taser they say did not work.
- Blake walked to his car and Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey — a seven-year veteran of the department who is being identified for the first time — fired his weapon seven times into Blake's back, according to the account.
- No other officer was reported to fire a weapon.
- During the investigation following the initial incident, Blake told officers he had a knife in his possession, which was later recovered from the driver’s side floorboard of his car. Officers did not find any other weapons in his car.
- The Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras available for its officers.
The big picture: Kenosha has been in a state of chaos since the shooting, which left Blake paralyzed. The incident has set off protests throughout Kenosha and across the country against police brutality.
- Two people died after gunfire erupted during demonstrations in the area on Tuesday night. 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse has been arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide.