FROM THE WI DOJ WEBSITE

KENOSHA, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating an officer involved shooting (OIS) in Kenosha, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Sunday, August 23, 2020.

The shooting occurred when Kenosha police officers responded to a reported domestic incident in the 2800 block of 40th Street.

Law enforcement immediately provided medical aid to the person who was shot. Flight for Life transported the person to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. The person is in serious condition.

DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by Wisconsin State Patrol and Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation. The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave.

DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to a prosecutor following a complete and thorough investigation.

THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF ALL IS THAT WE DON’T KNOW THE DETAILS ON THE INCIDENT!!!! THE INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE ANY JUDGEMENTS CAN BE MADE ON WHETHER THE SHOOTING WAS JUSTIFIED OR NOT.

A CELL PHONE VIDEO SHOWS JACOB BLAKE (A BLACK MALE) WALKING AROUND THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE WITH OFFICERS FOLLOWING, AT LEAST ONE OF THE OFFICER HAS HIS GUN OUT.  BLAKE OPENS THE DRIVERS DOOR AND REACHES INTO THE VEHICLE.  THE OFFICER  GRABS BLAKE’S SHIRT, APPEARING TO PULL HIM BACK AND THEN ENDS UP SHOOTING BLAKE.  THIS IS THE INFORMATION WE SEE FROM ONE VIDEO, WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY DISTRIBUTED.

WE ALSO KNOW FROM CCAP THAT JACOB BLAKE HAS A WARRANT FOR: CRIMINAL TRESPASS – DOMESTIC RELATED, 3RD DEGREE SEX ASSAULT – DOMESTIC RELATED, AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT – DOMESTIC RELATED.  IT IS UNKNOWN IF OFFICERS KNEW THIS UPON RESPONDING TO THE REPORT OF THE DOMESTIC INCIDENT.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT:

1.  JACOB BLAKE HAD A KNIFE, AND WAS TOLD TO DROP THE KNIFE.

2.  A CLOSE UP FROM THE VIDEO, SHOWS SOMETHING (POSSIBLY A KNIFE) IN BLAKE’S HAND.

3.  BLAKE WAS UNCOOPERATIVE WITH OFFICERS, AND DID NOT OBEY THEIR COMMANDS.

4.  A TASER WAS DEPLOYED ON BLAKE, WHICH WAS INEFFECTIVE.

5.  BLAKE TOLD THE OFFICERS HE WAS GOING TO HIS VEHICLE TO RETRIEVE HIS GUN.

ONCE AGAIN, THESE ARE ONLY UNVERIFIED REPORTS AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED TO BE FACTUALLY ACCURATE.  EVERYONE NEEDS TO LET DCI DO THEIR JOB AND INVESTIGATE THIS SHOOTING.  

THERE IS NO PLACE FOR RIOTING, LOOTING, AND TORCHING THINGS.  THIS IS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.