Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley has announced that no officers will be criminally charged for shooting Jacob Blake Jr. on August 23, 2020. Multiple officers were called to a "domestic incident" that afternoon and encountered Blake Jr. As officers called out to Blake Jr., the 29-year-old man walked toward his car as his children sat in the backseat. While Blake Jr. walked away from the officers and began entering his car, officer Rusten Sheskey fired seven shots and critically injured the young father. The incident was caught on camera and sparked protests around the country.
"Can moments of tragedy like this be an opportunity to build things?" Graveley asked after announcing that no charges would be filed against Sheskey.
Graveley's announcement continues a trend of recent updates regarding high profile cases that dominated the summer. Most notably, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor. More recently, attorneys in Georgia filed a motion asking that Ahmaud Arbery not be referred to as a "victim" during the trial. Attorneys have also asked that attendees not wear "Black Lives Matter" paraphernalia during the trial. Following those events, today's outcome was not what the Blake family was hoping for.
"We're not going to stop in Kenosha. We're headed to DC. We're headed to Nancy Pelosi's office. We're headed to whoever is going to be in charge of the Senate. Because this has got to be federally heard, for not just my son, but for everybody who has suffered police brutality -- everyone," Jacob Blake Sr. said.
Despite the shooting and decision not to press charges, the Blake family is hopeful that Blake Jr. will continue to recover. His uncle, Justin Blake, recently provided a glowing report about his recovery.
"The way he is taking this mental approach, the way he puts all his effort into his therapy, and the passion, if anybody could walk again one day, it would be my nephew," his uncle, Justin Blake, said.
In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, Blake Jr. nor Blake Sr. has made a public statement. It is unclear if they will pursue further legal action.
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