The Wisconsin man shot at least seven times in the back by police after reportedly trying to break up a fight is paralyzed from the waist down, and his family members on Tuesday shared their anguish at his shooting — and the violence that followed.
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot by Kenosha police Sunday evening after calls of a domestic incident in the area, according to officials.
On Tuesday, his relatives spoke to the media.
The family of Jacob Blake, including sister Megan Beltcher (second from left), father Jacob Blake (center), mother Julia Jackson (second from right) and sister Letetra Wideman (right) head to a press conference in Civic Center Park on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The family, along with their attorneys, addressed the public following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
“We need healing,” said Blake’s mother, Julia Jackson. “As I pray for my son healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually, I also have been praying — even before this — for the healing of our country.”
Jackson said her son would be troubled by the violence in Kenosha and in other places following the shooting and said he is also praying for the police officers and their families.
“Let’s use our hearts, our love and our intelligence to work together to show the rest of the world how humans are supposed to treat each other.”
Blake remains hospitalized, and family attorney Ben Crump said, “It’s going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr. to ever walk again.”
On Sunday, witnesses said, Blake was unarmed and trying to stop a scuffle between two women before police opened fire as he tried to get into his car.
Megan Belcher, the youngest sister of Jacob Blake, speaks at a press conference in Civic Center Park on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The family, along with their attorneys, addressed the public following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
Video from the scene shows three officers talking to Blake, who then walks away to the driver’s side of his car. The officers follow, then attempt to pull Blake away from the vehicle as he opens the door.
With one hand on Blake’s shirt, an officer fired multiple times into his back.
The Kenosha Police Department said officers provided “immediate aid” before Blake was airlifted to a hospital in Milwaukee.
“They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn’t matter,” Jacob Blake Sr. told reporters Tuesday. “But my son matters. He’s a human being and he matters.”
Jacob Blake, the father of Jacob Blake, speaks at a press conference in Civic Center Park on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The family, along with their attorneys, addressed the public following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
Lawyers for the family said they will file a civil suit against the Police Department.
After protesters set more than 30 fires on Monday night, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called for calm, while also saying the National Guard presence would be doubled from 125 to 250 in Kenosha.
The city remained under an 8 p.m. curfew Tuesday.
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