A Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer fired seven shots that appeared directed at extremely close range into a man’s back as the man bent into a car, a very disturbing video shows. The August 23 video captures the sound of seven gunshots. It appears that the officer opens fire while holding the back of the man’s shirt. The man is in serious condition. You can watch the video below, but it is graphic.
Governor Tony Evers released the injured man’s name as Jacob Blake, writing on Twitter, “Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries.”
A news release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice says that, “While holding onto Mr. Blake’s shirt, Officer Rusten Sheskey fired his service weapon seven times. Officer Sheskey fired the weapon into Mr. Blake’s back. No other officer fired their weapon. Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras, therefore the officers were not wearing body cameras.”
Sheskey has been an officer for seven years with the Kenosha PD. During the investigation, “Mr. Blake admitted that he had a knife in his possession. DCI agents recovered a knife from the driver’s side floorboard of Blake’s vehicle. There were no other weapons recovered,” the DOJ reported. The DCI (Department of Criminal Investigation with the Wisconsin Department of Justice) is continuing to review the case.
You can read about Blake’s background here. The city imposed a curfew. “‼️CITY WIDE CURFEW UNTIL 7AM‼️” police wrote on the evening of August 24.
According to the Kenosha News, the shooting occurred in front of the man’s children.
Here’s the video:
Here’s a different vantage point:
Outrage is erupting in the southeastern Wisconsin community, which is located in between Milwaukee and Chicago.
A former Kenosha alderman, Kevin Mathewson, was one of those who shared the video on Facebook. Be forewarned that it’s a very disturbing video. You can watch it here. “Kenosha Police Shooting man 7 times in back,” he wrote. “Why the f*ck you shoot him that many times?” a man shouts at the officer in the video. A woman named Telicia Phillips appears to have first posted the videos. Heavy has reached out to her for comment.
This is 29-year-old Jacob Blake who was shot by Kenosha police. His fiancé shared this picture with us.
Here are some screenshots from the video.
FacebookKenosha police video
There were reports that an officer was knocked out with a brick.
Unrest grew.
The video shows three officers standing with the man before he walks away from them. Then, an officer with gun drawn follows the man to the driver’s side of his car. There are multiple people in the area. A second officer is right behind him. The man, who is Black, gets in the car. The officer, who appears to be white, at least from a distance, then appears to shoot multiple times into the door at the man’s back. The officer who fires appears to be grabbing the man’s white shirt while firing, and it doesn’t look like the man turned to face the officer. A second officer has his gun drawn, but it’s not clear if he also fires.
The injured man then is seen lying on the ground surrounded by four officers who appear to be giving him aid.
The Kenosha News reported that neighbors said the man was “trying to break up a fight between two women.”
Here’s what you need to know:
Police Say They Were Dispatched to a Domestic Incident & Then an Officer-Involved Shooting
Here’s the full statement released by Kenosha police:
At 5:11 p.m. Kenosha Police Officers were sent to the 2800 block of 40th Street for a domestic incident and were involved in an officer involved shooting.
Officers provided immediate aid to the person. The person was transported via Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee. The person is in serious condition.
Kenosha Sheriff’s Department and Wisconsin State Patrol were requested immediately so that the scene could be turned over to an agency, other than Kenosha Police.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (D.O.J.), Division of Criminal Investigation (D.C.I.) will be investigating this officer involved shooting. Further media releases will come directly from D.C.I. Inquiries should be directed to dojcommunications@doj.state.wi.us
According to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access online records, a Jacob S. Blake, same age and with an address in the same exact block where the shooting occurred, had a warrant issued for him on July 7 on pending accusations of misdemeanor criminal trespass to a dwelling with domestic abuse as a modifier; felony third-degree sexual assault with domestic abuse as a modifier; and misdemeanor disorderly conduct with domestic abuse as a modifier.
CCAP entry
A support action was dismissed, and the only other case that comes up is for not having a driver’s license.
Neighbors Said Police Tased & Then Shot the Man
According to the Kenosha News, neighbors said “police tasered and then shot a man several times.” The man and officers were not identified.