Jacob Blake Jr's family reacts to the U.S. Justice Department not seeking federal criminal charges against Kenosha officer

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS58) -- The U.S. Justice Department announced it will not pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against Kenosha police officer Rusten Shesky.

Shesky shot Jacob Blake Jr seven times in 2020 after responding to a domestic call.

Blake Jr. is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Blake Jr.'s family says they're very disappointed in this decision.

They will continue to fight until they get what they deserve.

"This is a heavyweight fight. Somebody is going down and it's not going to be us. They got the right family. We're fed up," said Justin Blake, Blake Jr's uncle.

Federal prosecutors from the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office reviewed the case.

They say there's not enough evidence to prove that Officer Rusten Shesky willfully used excessive force.

"We want to make one thing clear to the President and Vice President Harris, this was like a shot going across the bow to African Americans that on your watch the DOJ said it was okay to shoot an unarmed man 7 times," said Justin Blake.

The shooting incident happened on Aug. 23, 2020 and sparked nationwide protests over the following months.

Sheskey and other officers responded to a domestic call in the 2800 block of 40th Street in Kenosha.

Viral cell phone video shows Jacob Blake Jr. trying to leave the scene.

Officer Shesky grabbed his shirt as he was opening the driver's side door.

Shesky then shot Blake Jr. seven times.

Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Gravely declined to charge Shesky in January 2021.

Shesky reportedly returned back to work in the spring.

"We going to continue to press nationally and internationally to get that officer fired. what he did was personal, not the badge, but he was wearing the badge," Blake said.

The family added that Jacob Blake Jr. is very energetic and tries to keep a smile on his face.

They say he stood up on his own for five minutes.

Blake Jr. says he's determined to walk by next summer.

The family still has a civil suit in the process.