Justice Dept. launches civil rights investigation into Jacob Blake shooting

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a civil rights investigation into the police shooting of Jacob Blake as footage of the incident sparked protests in Kenosha, Wis., and several U.S. cities.

The investigation will be led by the FBI in cooperation with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and other state authorities, the DOJ said in a statement Wednesday evening. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will also oversee the investigation, which had been requested by Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley. 

Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot in the back several times by a Kenosha Police Department officer on Sunday as he leaned into his vehicle following an initial interaction with law enforcement on the scene.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul (D), who is leading a separate probe, said Wednesday that the officer who fired his weapon, identified as Rusten Sheskey, fired seven rounds toward Blake while holding his shirt.

The shooting came after Kenosha officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance, Kaul said.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice said law enforcement initially deployed a Taser when attempting to arrest Blake, but it was unsuccessful. It said Blake then walked around his car and opened the driver’s side door and leaned in, at which point the officer opened fire.

Blake acknowledged having a knife after an initial interaction with officers, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said, and a knife was found in his car after a later search of the SUV.

Blake was critically wounded in the shooting. His family has said he is currently paralyzed from the waist down.

The Justice Department’s statement on the investigation Wednesday also addressed increasing unrest in Kenosha following the incident, saying that “federal law enforcement is joined with state and local authorities to address further violence in Kenosha and beyond.”

Cellphone footage of the police shooting of Blake rapidly spread across social media, sparking calls from officials including Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for an investigation holding the officers accountable.

Protests have erupted in Kenosha in the days since, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. Property damage was reported to be widespread in the city, helping lead Evers to mobilize the state’s National Guard.

Two protesters were also killed amid increased unrest in the city Tuesday night. A 17-year-old teen from Illinois was arrested in connection to the case and is being charged with first-degree intentional homicide. 

Sheskey and another officer who responded to the scene involving Blake have been placed on administrative leave. The Wisconsin DOJ noted on Wednesday that neither officer was wearing a body camera. 

Officials in Kenosha supported policed body cameras in 2017, however the city has been slow to outfit officers with the equipment, according to The Associated Press. 

Updated: 10:49 p.m.