No charges in Jacob Blake shooting

Rusten Sheskey and two other Kenosha, WI police officers will not face charges in the shooting of Jacob Blake, Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced Tuesday.

No charges in Jacob Blake shooting

Sheskey shot Blake seven times in the back while responding to a domestic incident on August 23, 2020. Blake survived the shooting but was left paralyzed from the waist down.

“It is my decision now that no Kenosha law enforcement officer will be charged with any criminal offense based on the facts and laws,” Graveley said Tuesday.

Graveley also announced Blake would not be charged.

Sheskey told investigators that he used deadly force during the encounter because he was afraid Blake, while attempting to flee the scene, was trying to kidnap a child in the backseat of the vehicle.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice had said Blake had a knife in his possession and the weapon was found on the floorboard of his vehicle.

Defense attorney on charges being dropped

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Blake family, voiced his frustration over the decision. Crump and co-counsels Patrick A. Salvi II and B’Ivory LaMarr, released a statement shortly after the District Attorney’s announcement:

“We feel this decision failed not only Jacob and his family, but the community that protested and demanded justice,” the statement read.

“Officer Sheskey’s actions sparked outrage and advocacy throughout the country, but the District Attorney’s decision not to charge the officer who shot Jacob in the back multiple times, leaving him paralyzed, further destroys trust in our justice system. This sends the wrong message to police officers throughout the country.”