No charges will be filed against white police officer Rusten Sheskey, who shot black man Jacob Blake seven times and left him paralyzed, Kenosha County prosecutors announced Tuesday.
‘No Kenosha law enforcement officer in this case will be charged with any criminal offense,’ Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced.
He said no charges would be filed against the other two officers involved in the incident – Officers Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek – or Blake. He noted a separate federal civil rights investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
On August 23 Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department, responded to a domestic incident in Kenosha, Wisconsin and shot Blake multiple times as he tried to get into his SUV as his three young children watched on from the back seat.
He has been left paralyzed and was discharged from the hospital in October.
Graveley said no charges were filed because prosecutors could not disprove Sheskey’s claim of self-defense. He said it is ‘incontrovertible’ that Blake had a knife, citing how officers reported seeing a razor blade-type knife and Blake admitted to authorities he had a knife.
The shooting triggered massive, outraged protests in the city decrying police brutality and demanding accountability.
Wisconsin had already started to brace for renewed protests ahead of the decision with Gov. Tony Evers mobilizing 500 National Guard troops to help Kenosha authorities, the county sheriff declaring a state of emergency, and Mayor John Antaramian was given power to enact a curfew.
No charges will be filed against white police officer Rusten Sheskey, who shot black man Jacob Blake seven times and left him paralyzed, Kenosha County prosecutors announced Tuesday. Sheskey pictured left and right
Jacob Blake was discharged from hospital in early October 2020 where he had been recovering for more than a month after being shot seven times by police during a domestic disturbance call in August
Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced Tuesday that no charges would be filed against Sheskey or the other officers involved in the incident
National Guard troops standing guard near the Kenosha County Courthouse hours before the charges announcement on Tuesday above
On Tuesday before Graveley shared the announcement he pleaded for peace.
‘Rather than burning things down, can moments of tragedy like this be an opportunity to build things?’ Graveley said.
At the lengthy press conference Graveley played a recording of Blake’s girlfriend’s 911 call to police, saying he had the keys to a rental car and was worried he would take it and crash it.
When Sheskey arrived to the scene of the 911 call he saw Blake placing a child in the car saying: ‘I’m taking the kid and I’m taking the car.’
The cops then tried to take Blake to the ground and shock him with Tasers three times, but it had no effect, leading to the shooting.
Graveley said that Blake was shot four times in the back and three times in the side and Sheskey told investigators he fired until Blake dropped the knife then tried to give him medical aid.
Sheskey told investigators he used deadly force because he was afraid of Blake and feared he was trying to flee the scene and kidnap a child in the backseat of the vehicle.
Sheskey and the other officers who were at the scene in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
Following the announcement, Jacob Blake’s attorneys Ben Crump, Patrick A. Salvi II and B’Ivory LaMarr released a statement condemning the decision.
‘We are immensely disappointed in Kenosha District Attorney Michael Graveley’s decision not to charge the officers involved in this horrific shooting. We feel this decision failed not only Jacob and his family, but the community that protested and demanded justice,’ the statement shared with DailyMail.com said.
‘This sends the wrong message to police officers throughout the country. It says it is OK for police to abuse their power and recklessly shoot their weapon, destroying the life of someone who was trying to protect his children,’ it adds.
The moment Sheskey opened fire on Blake on August 23 in Kenosha
Jacob Blake (pictured) has been left paralyzed from the waist down following the shooting on August 23
Blake pictured above with his three young children who were in the back seat of his SUV when he tried to get in and was shot
In sharing the highly-anticipated news, Graveley said how personally difficult the decision was.
‘I feel in many ways completely inadequate for this moment. I have never in my life had a moment where I’ve had to contend with explicit or implicit bias based on my race. I have never had a moment in my life where I’ve had to fear for my safety either with police officers or people in authority,’ he said.
He noted that he never had to face police officers ‘knowing I could face armed persons who might try to end my life.’
The shooting was captured on video and circulated online, fueling massive protests that caused $50 million in damage to public and private property in Kenosha.
The Kenosha City Council held a meeting on Monday and agreed to grant Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian emergency powers as officials prepared for expected unrest following the DA’s decision.
In anticipation of the announcement many businesses were boarded up and some streets in Kenosha were closed.
Wisconsin had already started to brace for renewed protests ahead of the DA’s decision with Gov. Tony Evers mobilizing 500 National Guard troops to help Kenosha authorities. National Guard members pictured Tuesday outside a museum on Kenosha
Some businesses boarded up this week ahead of the announcement, bracing for renewed protests in light of the District Attorney’s office decision
Activists show support for Jacob Blake Jr. during a vigil near the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, urging for Sheskey to be charged
Protesters carrying a sign that says ‘Arrest The Cops’ during a rally on Monday near the Kenosha County Courthouse above
Jacob Blake Sr., the father of Jacob Blake Jr. said at the Monday rally: ‘Let’s be heard around the world. 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’
On Monday Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr, led a rally throughout Kenosha where he called for charges against Sheskey, urging the public to ‘stand up and make some noise.’
‘Let’s be heard around the world. 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,’ he said.
Also on Tuesday, Kyle Rittenhouse, an 18-year-old from Illinois accused of shooting dead two protesters and injuring a third during demonstrations decrying the Blake shooting on August 25, pleaded not guilty to charges.
Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, pleaded not guilty to charges including intentional homicide on Tuesday in a brief hearing conducted by teleconference. Rittenhouse pictured in blue with his lawyer Mark Richard’s from his lawyer’s office
Rittenhouse opened fire with an assault-style rifle during protests on August 25, killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz. Pictured above carrying the rifle in Kenosha during the night of the shooting
He entered his plea in a brief hearing conducted by teleconference.
He looked serious during his appearance, wearing a blue button down shirt, tie and black face mask, for the hearing from the office of his attorney Mark Richards.
Rittenhouse had traveled from his home in Antioch, Illinois to Kenosha and opened fire with an assault-style rifle during protests on August 25, killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz.
Rittenhouse has argued he opened fired in self-defense, claiming he was protecting local businesses from the raucous protests.
He faces seven charges: first degree intentional homicide in the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36; first degree reckless homicide of Anthony Huber, 26, attempted first degree intentional homicide of Gaige Grosskreutz, 22, two counts of recklessly endangering safety for shots fired at others, being a minor in possession of a firearm and violation a curfew.