Blake had knife in car when Kenosha cop shot him: Wisconsin DOJ
Blake admitted to having the knife during the investigation
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jacob Blake had a knife on the floorboard of his car when he was shot by police, said the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which also has identified the officer who shot him as Rusten Sheskey.
The knife was recovered from the driver's side of Blake's SUV, the agency said. It did not say whether Blake was holding the knife when Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department, shot him Sunday evening.
Blake, 29, admitted to having the knife during the investigation, officials said. No other weapons were recovered.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}According to a Wisconsin DOJ news release, officers responded to a domestic dispute after a woman reported her boyfriend was unlawfully on the premises. Officers attempted to arrest Blake and a Taser was used, but it did not subdue him, authorities said.
As Blake walked around to the driver's side of the SUV, he opened the door and leaned forward into the vehicle. Sheskey held onto Blake's shirt and fired seven times, striking him in the back. No other officer opened fire.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Officers were not equipped with body cameras, despite city leaders unanimously approving a plan in 2017 to purchase the devices in an effort to increase transparency and police accountability.
Lawyers for Blake's family said Tuesday he was paralyzed from the shooting.
“They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn’t matter,” said Jacob Blake Sr., who spoke to reporters alongside other family members and lawyers outside the Kenosha County courthouse. “But my son matters. He’s a human being and he matters.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Justice Department announced Wednesday it will conduct a civil rights investigation. The FBI will lead the inquiry with assistance from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and other state authorities.
Anger over the shooting spilled onto the streets of Kenosha in the days since, resulting in violent clashes between demonstrators and police, along with looting and vandalism.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two people were killed Tuesday and another was wounded in Kenosha amid more chaotic gatherings. On Wednesday, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered 500 National Guard members to the city to quell more potential unrest.
Athletes have also weighed in on the events surrounding the police shooting. The Milwaukee Bucks opted to boycott Game 5 of its NBA playoffs series against the Orlando Magic Wednesday. In a show of solidarity, the Milwaukee Brewers did the same, choosing not to play its scheduled game against the Cincinnati Reds.