Jacob Blake, a black man is in a critical condition after being shot in the back seven times by cops in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The 29-year-old man was entering inside a vehicle when the shooting happened recently.
The video footage of the incident revealed that the unarmed Blake was trying to get into a car when one officer pulled his top. The cop who was holding on to Blake’s vest had his firearm aimed at his back, alongside another cop.
The sound of seven gunshots was heard before Blake’s body went limp in the footage of the incident which appears to be recorded from across the street. At the end of the footage, the car horn was blaring and witnesses screamed.
Prominent civil rights lawyer, Benjamin Crump, who represents the Blake family disclosed that Blake was attempting to settle a domestic incident before officers descended on him.
Also, he said the three sons of Blake were in the car he was entering into when he got shot.
He said: “We all watched the horrific video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back several times by Kenosha police. Even worse, his three sons witnessed their father collapse after being riddled with bullets. Their irresponsible, reckless, and inhumane actions nearly cost the life of a man who was simply trying to do the right thing by intervening in a domestic incident. It’s a miracle he’s still alive.
“I have said all along that although we must offer our empathy, equally important is our action. In the coming days, we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognise the racism in our state and our country for far too long.”
While reacting to the ugly incident, Wisconsin governor 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.
“We stand with all those who have and continue to demand justice, equity, and accountability for Black lives in our country—lives like those of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy, and Sylville Smith. And we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with black Wisconsinites.”
Protests have taken place in Kenosha since the news of the shooting broke and authorities in Kenosha have implemented an emergency curfew.
An investigation has commenced into the shooting and the police officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.
The identities of the cops have not yet been publicly revealed.
