Kenosha officer will not face charges in shooting of Jacob Blake
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Kenosha police officer who shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back will not face any charges.
Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley made the announcement during a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 5.
"It is my decision now that no Kenosha law enforcement officer will be charged with any criminal offense based on the facts and laws," Graveley said.
Getting ready to hear Kenosha County DA Mike Graveley discuss the investigation surrounding the Jacob Blake shooting. @CBS58pic.twitter.com/mepTupgJ5t
— Mark Stevens (@MarkCBS58) January 5, 2021
Graveley announced there will also be no charges for the other two officers involved in the incident. They were identified by the Wisconsin Justice Department in September as Officers Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek.
Blake will also not face charges, Graveley said.
On August 23, 2020, cellphone video captured Blake being shot seven times by Kenosha Officer Rusten Sheskey. Blake survived the shooting but is paralyzed from the waist down.
Graveley says he wouldn't be able to prove to a jury that Sheskey acted illegally when he chose to shoot Blake. He says the whole case rests on self-defense, and courts are not able to second guess an officer's decision using 20/20 hindsight.
Graveley played the 911 call from that day at the news conference. Police were called for a domestic dispute. The caller said Blake had taken a set of car keys and was not returning them and that he had crashed the caller's car in the past.
Dispatchers told the officers that Blake had an arrest warrant linked to a sexual assault at the address.
Graveley says Sheskey saw Blake putting a child in the car, and heard Blake say, "I'm taking the kid and I'm taking the car."
Based on what Sheskey knew, Graveley says a jury would find the shooting justified.
"Did Officer Sheskey reasonably believe the shooting at Jacob Blake was necessary to prevent being stabbed by him," Graveley said. "Or necessary to prevent someone else being injured by death or great bodily harm?"
Graveley says he wants a second opinion on his decision. The US. Attorney's Office is pursuing a Civil Rights investigation. Graveley said he believes the office is close to a decision.
To view the DA's full written report, click HERE.
To view a slideshow presentation of the district attorney's findings, click HERE. Use-of-force expert Noble Wray's independent evaluation and report can be found HERE.