National outrage ensues after Jacob Blake is shot
Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by a police officer, Rusten Sheskey, while attempting to enter his vehicle on Aug. 23. Blake is a 29 year old father of six, three of which were in the car at the time of the shooting.
According to the Kenosha police union, the original call was for a domestic disturbance about Blake attempting to steal a vehicle after violating a restraining order, which was filed with a third-degree sexual assault complaint from his ex-girlfriend on July 6. According to the union, the police arrived on scene within three minutes, aware that Blake had an open warrant for sexual assault.
Allegedly, Blake was trying to break up a domestic dispute between two women as other witnesses corroborate. As the situation escalated, there was an exchange that led Officer Sheskey to tase Blake twice as he resisted arrest. However, there is no recording of this exchange as the officers were not wearing body cameras.
In a viral video taken by Raysean White, Blake is seen walking around a white SUV while officers have their weapons drawn. When Blake made it to his car, Sheskey grabbed him by the back of the shirt and fired seven shots from his firearm. After the incident, the officers were placed on leave and a trial was scheduled for November, which has been delayed since.
The viral video has led to unrest throughout Kenosha, Wisconsin and the rest of the country. Demonstrations became chaotic, causing an estimated two million dollars in damages, according to Milwaukee’s WUWM radio station.
After the shooting, Blake was treated at Froedtert Hospital where he was cuffed to his bed due to his arrest warrant. Blake would later find out that he had been paralyzed from his injuries and had a 10,000 dollar bond, leading his family to set up GoFundMe page, which has raised over two million dollars for his cause.
Blake had a court hearing via Zoom from his hospital bed where he pleaded not guilty to all charges to which he faces 10 years if convicted.
