Protests and riots have broken out in Wisconsin after police were recorded shooting a Black man several times as he attempted to enter his vehicle.
Large crowds gathered outside the Kenosha police station and protesters clashed with police officers at the scene of the officer-involved shooting.
Vehicles were also set on fire and there are reports of looting and people vandalizing the local courthouse as protesters voice their anger at the latest incident of a Black man being shot by police, three months after the death of 46-year-old George Floyd sparked worldwide protests.
Kenosha Police confirmed there was an officer-involved shooting after they were called to reports of a domestic incident at 5:11 p.m. at the 2800 block of 40th Street on Sunday.
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Police said they provided immediate aid to the man who was shot, since identified as 29-year-old Jacob Blake.
Blake was taken by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee in a serious condition.
A video widely shared on social media appeared to show the moment of the shooting.
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The clip shows Blake walking away from at least three Kenosha Police officers while they point their gun at him. As he attempts to enter his SUV, one officer grabs onto his tank top and tries to pull him back.
Several shots are then heard while onlookers scream out. It is not clear if more than one officer fired their weapon.
Ben Crump, a lawyer currently representing the family of Floyd, was one of those who shared the footage of the shooting online. Crump also said that Blake’s three sons were inside the car at the time.
Eyewitnesses said that Blake was attempting to break up a fight between two women before police intervened.
Officers pummeled with bricks in #Kenosha, at least one Molotov cocktail thrown at police, cruisers smashed, after police shot 29 year old Jacob Blake in the back. Point blank. pic.twitter.com/KnnWBT68Gm
— Vitalist International (@VitalistInt) August 24, 2020
The incident resulted in widespread disorder across Kenosha, including reports of officers being hit with missiles and patrol vehicles being targeted.
Police are said to have used tear gas in an attempt to break up the angry crowds as clips on social media show bricks and Molotov cocktails being thrown at officers.
As the rioting continued, Kenosha County declared a state of emergency curfew, which the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department said they will be enforcing until 7 a.m. on Monday.
“The public needs to be off the streets for their safety,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
In a statement, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers condemned the actions of police after Blake was shot “in the back multiple times, in broad daylight.”
“While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country,” Evers added.
“We stand with all those who have and continue to demand justice, equity, and accountability for Black lives in our country—lives like those of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy, and Sylville Smith. And we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites.
“I have said all along that although we must offer our empathy, equally important is our action. In the coming days, we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognize the racism in our state and our country for far too long.”
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) confirmed they are now investigating the shooting
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as protocol.
“DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by Wisconsin State Patrol and Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation,” a statement added.
“DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to a prosecutor following a complete and thorough investigation.”
Kenosha Police have been contacted for further comment.
