(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Wisconsin authorities on Wednesday revealed new information about the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake and denounced a subsequent and deadly shooting that has resulted in charges against an Antioch, Illinois man.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul on Wednesday said Kenosha police first tried to use a Taser on Blake Sunday before one officer fired shots into his back.
Kaul said a domestic call preceded the incident, which has spurred protests, violence and arson in Kenosha and revived the national discussion about race and policing.
"Law enforcement deployed a Taser, to attempt to stop Mr. Blake, but the Taser was not successful," Kaul said at a news conference. "Mr. Blake walked around his vehicle, opened the driver's side door, and leaned forward."
He said 7-year veteran officer Rusten Sheskey had a grasp on Blake's shirt and fired his service weapon seven times into Blake's back. No other officers fired, Kaul said.
Police found a knife in Blake's car. He had told officers he was in possession of the weapon, the state attorney general said.
Blake is hospitalized and is not expected to walk again, his family says.
The Kenosha Police Department does not wear body cameras, so there is no video from officers showing the incident, Kaul said.
A state investigation is underway into the police-involved shooting. Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin, confirmed it is working with the FBI on a civil-rights investigation into Blake's shooting that will run parallel with the state probe.
Kaul also denounced a deadly shooting that occurred Tuesday night that may have involved an Illinois teen; two people were killed and a third was injured. A 17-year-old from northern Illinois is in custody.
Kaul said out-of-towners have agitated an already volatile situation in Kenosha.
