As protests against police brutality continue across the country in the wake of the officer-involved killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, yet, another Black man is fighting for his life at the hands of police.
The incident occurred Sunday afternoon, as the man, who has been identified as Jacob Blake, was walking away from Kenosha Police.
Video footage taken from across the street showed Blake walking around a vehicle as officers pointed their guns at him. He then opened the car door and tried to get in as an officer grabs him by the shirt.
With his gun pointed at Blake, the officer maintains hold on the man’s shirt. Moments later, at least seven shots are fired as the man slumps into the vehicle, onto the horn.
Blake was struck multiple times in his back, as his three sons watched from the car. He was then transported to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
“Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement. “While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.”
According to CNN, officials said they were responding to a domestic disturbance, but it remains unclear who called or what happened before the video.
The case has since been turned over to the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, who will investigate.
In the meantime, the Blake family has reached out to Attorney Ben Crump for assistance. He confirmed Blake’s children witnessed the near-fatal shooting.
“They saw a cop shoot their father,” Crump said. “They will be traumatized forever. We cannot let officers violate their duty to PROTECT us. Our kids deserve better!”
Protests erupted almost immediately after the incident, forcing a countywide emergency curfew that ended at 7 am this morning.
