White police officer shoots unarmed black father in the back seven times in front of his children

An unarmed black man was yesterday shot in the back seven times by a white police officer in front of his children after Wisconsin police were called to a domestic dispute.

Rioting and protests erupted in the wake of the shooting as the County of Kenosha declared a state of emergency, and a curfew has been put into effect by authorities until 7am on Monday.

The black man, who has been identified as 29-year-old Jacob Blake, was hospitalized in serious condition following the police shooting in Kenosha that prompted neighbors and crowds to gather and confront officers at the scene on Sunday night. 

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a statement denouncing ‘excessive use of force’ by police. As video of the shooting quickly went viral, protesters took to the streets of Kenosha, where police are on high alert. 

Video posted to social media shows a large crowd numbering hundreds of protesters gathered outside a Kenosha police station chanting ‘Black Lives Matter’ and other slogans denouncing law enforcement. 

Demonstrators set fire to vehicles and smashed police cruiser windows as they faced off with police, who set off tear gas canisters to try to disperse the crowd.

Witnesses reported that at least three police officers had their guns drawn as Jacob Blake (seen above in the white t-shirt) was walking away from them in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday

Blake is seen above continuing toward his SUV, where his children were reported to be inside the vehicle

Blake is seen above continuing toward his SUV, where his children were reported to be inside the vehicle

The images above show the moments leading up to the shooting. Blake (seen in the white shirt) walks away from a police officer who has his gun drawn and is ordering him to stop

The images above show the moments leading up to the shooting. Blake (seen in the white shirt) walks away from a police officer who has his gun drawn and is ordering him to stop

The images above show the moments leading up to the shooting. Blake (seen in the white shirt) walks away from a police officer who has his gun drawn and is ordering him to stop

Blake was airlifted to a Milwaukee hospital, where he is listed in serious condition.  

The shooting happened at around 5pm as officers were responding to a ‘domestic incident,’ the Kenosha Police Department said in a news release. 

In a video posted on social media Sunday that appeared to show the shooting from across the street, three officers could be seen shouting and pointing their weapons at Blake, who walked around the front of an SUV parked on the street. 

As Blake opened the driver’s side door and leaned inside, one officer grabbed his shirt from behind and then fired into the vehicle. 

At least seven shots could be heard, though it was unclear if more than one officer fired.

Local reports indicate that Blake’s children were inside the SUV and watched as their father was gunned down. 

The image above shows the moment a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer fired at least seven shots into the back of Jacob Blake as he was getting into an SUV in a residential neighborhood

The image above shows the moment a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer fired at least seven shots into the back of Jacob Blake as he was getting into an SUV in a residential neighborhood

An unidentified woman (left) is heard in the video screaming as gunshots rang out

An unidentified woman (left) is heard in the video screaming as gunshots rang out

Several witnesses said that Blake tried to break up a fight between two women outside a nearby home, according to Kenosha News.

Before resorting to gunfire, the police attempted to subdue Blake with a Taser, to no avail, it was reported.

Benjamin Crump, a civil rights attorney, shared video of the incident on his Twitter feed. He noted that the shooting took place right in front of Blake’s three children.

‘They saw a cop shoot their father,’ Crump tweeted. 

‘They will be traumatized forever. We cannot let officers violate their duty to PROTECT us. Our kids deserve better!!’ 

Crump is the attorney who represents the family of George Floyd, the 46-year-old black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police in late May.

Floyd’s death ignited massive nationwide protests and rioting as millions took to the streets over the course of several weeks to demand the police officers responsible be tried and convicted. 

Following the shooting, neighbors could be seen gathering in the streets and hurling comments at police. Some could be heard chanting, ‘No justice, no peace.’

Blake is seen far left with his three children. Witnesses said all three of his kids were in the back seat of the SUV when their father was shot

A dump truck that was parked in an intersection so as to prevent protesters from reaching a police station was set on fire on Sunday

A dump truck that was parked in an intersection so as to prevent protesters from reaching a police station was set on fire on Sunday

Bystanders watch as a dump truck burns near the police station in Kenosha on Sunday night

Bystanders watch as a dump truck burns near the police station in Kenosha on Sunday night

Angry residents gathered near the scene of the shooting in Kenosha on Sunday night

Angry residents gathered near the scene of the shooting in Kenosha on Sunday night

Police officers were heckled by local residents in the aftermath of the shooting

Police officers were heckled by local residents in the aftermath of the shooting

Several officers stand guard at the crime scene in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday

Several officers stand guard at the crime scene in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday

Protesters gathered at the site of the shooting on Sunday night in Kenosha

Protesters gathered at the site of the shooting on Sunday night in Kenosha

Reports of rioting prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency in the County of Kenosha

Reports of rioting prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency in the County of Kenosha

Protesters posted images from the scene in Kenosha. Many were heard chanting: 'No justice, no peace'

Protesters posted images from the scene in Kenosha. Many were heard chanting: 'No justice, no peace'

Protesters posted images from the scene in Kenosha. Many were heard chanting: ‘No justice, no peace’

Tensions ran high near the crime scene on Sunday as neighbors gathered to vent their anger at police over the shooting

Tensions ran high near the crime scene on Sunday as neighbors gathered to vent their anger at police over the shooting

Tensions ran high near the crime scene on Sunday as neighbors gathered to vent their anger at police over the shooting

Locals reported that some protesters vandalized police cars by smashing windows. Others set fire to dump trucks

Locals reported that some protesters vandalized police cars by smashing windows. Others set fire to dump trucks

Locals reported that some protesters vandalized police cars by smashing windows. Others set fire to dump trucks

Several protesters jumped on top of police squad cars and smashed windows.

One video circulating on social media shows a Kenosha police officer collapse to the pavement after witnesses said he was struck with a brick. 

Another video shows a row of protesters walking toward a line of police officers clad in riot gear as simmering tensions threaten to escalate the situation. 

A dump truck that was parked at an intersection to prevent traffic from moving toward the police department was set on fire. 

Several curious onlookers got close to the burning truck and started taking pictures, but others warned them that the fire could lead to an explosion and warned them to back away.

At 11:05pm, police formed a cordon around the front doors of the police station and then fired tear gas canisters in an effort to disperse a large crowd that had gathered there.

‘No justice, no peace!’ the crowd was heard chanting. 

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers released a statement on Sunday denouncing 'excessive use of force' by police

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers released a statement on Sunday denouncing ‘excessive use of force’ by police

A man could be seen breaking the window of a patrol car parked along the street.

Some police officers were positioned on the roof of the station as people continued toward the building. 

Outside the station, protesters faced off with officers who were dressed in riot gear that included plastic facemasks and held plastic shields and batons that they occasionally used to push people back. 

A truck that was parked outside the courthouse in Kenosha was also set on fire. 

Kenosha Police referred all questions to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which did not immediately respond to messages seeking to confirm details of the video.

The Kenosha Sheriff´s Department and Wisconsin State Patrol were requested at the scene so another law enforcement agency could take over, police said in the news release.

The city of Kenosha is located on Lake Michigan, about 40 miles south of Milwaukee.

A Kenosha Police Department dispatcher referred calls by The Associated Press to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the agency that will be investigating the shooting. 

A message left with DOJ was not immediately returned.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers released a statement regarding the shooting late Sunday evening.

‘Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin,’ the statement read.

‘Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries. 

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers released a statement saying he was ‘hoping earnestly’ that Blake ‘would not succumb to his injuries’

He was airlifted to a hospital in Milwaukee, where he was listed in critical condition

Witnesses reported Blake was trying to break up an argument between two women moments before he was shot

Witnesses reported Blake was trying to break up an argument between two women moments before he was shot

‘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.’

The governor continued: ‘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.’ 

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