Protesters stormed the Kenosha County administration building in Wisconsin on Tuesday night following the district attorney’s decision not to charge any of the officers involved in the Jacob Blake shooting in August.
“Seven shots in the back! No, that’s not right!” some of the about 60 protesters rumbled outside the building, Kenosha News reported.
National Guard troops stood near the courthouse after Governor Tony Evers ordered them deployed in anticipation of possible violence.
“Does this look like a violent meeting to you?” a protester called the Guard members over a megaphone. “Because you all look stupid now.”
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Activists show support for Jacob Blake Jr. during a vigil near the Kenosha County Courthouse on January 4, 2021 in Kenosha, Wis. (Getty Images)”/>
Activists show support for Jacob Blake Jr. during a vigil near the Kenosha County Courthouse on January 4, 2021 in Kenosha, Wis. (Getty Images)
There were no reports of violence or vandalism from 9pm CT, Kenosha News reported.
District Attorney Michael Graveley said Tuesday afternoon that Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey, who allegedly shot Blake seven times during a house riot on August 23. Blake was paralyzed from the waist down.
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The Blake shooting two nights later led to protests for which Kyle Rittenhouse, now an 18-year-old Illinois resident, was charged in connection with the deaths of two men and the wounding of a third. Rittenhouse pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
On this Friday, September 4, 2020, image from the Kenosha County Court video, Jacob Blake answers questions during a trial in Kenosha, Wis. (Associated Press)
Meanwhile, Kenosha City Council voted 9-7 on Monday to increase the fine for inciting violence from $ 124 to $ 1,321. The council also unanimously approved an emergency statement pending protests related to the district attorney’s ruling.
“Everyone saw the video,” Graveley said of the Blake shooting cell phone video that went viral and sparked subsequent protests. “From their perspective, they heard this case from their computer screen in their living room. As a professional, I am asked how to hear this case in a real courtroom.”
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“If you do not believe you can prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt, you have an ethical obligation not to issue charges,” he added at the news conference.
This undated file photo provided by the Wisconsin Department of Justice shows Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey. (Associated Press)
Graveley said Blake, 29, was armed with a knife that was not visible in the video footage and admitted he had one during the incident. Statements that he was unarmed contradict what Blake, who had an active warrant for his arrest at the time of the shooting, told authorities, Graveley said.
A woman called August 23, 911, saying Blake refused to return keys from a rental car. Video footage of the incident caught Blake walking away from the officer and into a vehicle with his children inside, after which he was shot seven times.
Four bullets hit Blake in the back and three hit his left side, Graveley said.
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At one point, officers tried to use a stun gun to stop Blake. Sheskey told investigators he opened fire because he was afraid Blake was hurting the children in the vehicle.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.