USA: African American Man Shot 7 Times by Cop
An African American man is in a critical condition after he was shot multiple times by a police officer in the US state of Wisconsin.
On Sunday evening, 23 August, Jacob Blake was allegedly trying to break up a fight between two women, which seemingly took place in an unidentified neighbourhood in the city of Kenosha. Several police officers arrived on the scene after the bust-up ended.
Afterwards, the unarmed 29-year-old – with two white police officers on his heels, and with their guns drawn – walked towards a SUV, in which his three sons were seated.
As Blake opened the car door and leaned inside, one of the officers – who has not been formally identified – grabbed his shirt and shot him seven times in the back. Blake was soon airlifted to a hospital in Milwaukee, where he underwent surgery.
His shooting, which was captured on a mobile phone camera and went viral, has since sparked city-wide protests and national outrage.
The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave, and the investigation has been turned over to the Wisconsin Justice Department.
