No charges will be filed against the officer who shot Jacob Blake

Jacob Blake has been paralyzed starting from the waist down because of the officer’s shooting, which was not brought forth as a civil rights matter by the Justice Department.

Following its own investigation, the US Department of Justice on Friday (Oct. 8) announced that it would not pursue charges against Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey because there was insufficient evidence that he used excessive force or violated Blake’s civil rights. Therefore, no federal charges will be brought in respect of this incident, according to a news release from the Justice Department.

During an incident on Aug. 23, 2020, Blake’s children were inside a vehicle when he was shot multiple times. Initially, officers responded to the scene in response to a domestic incident. Then Sheskey grabbed Blake’s shirt and yanked him away from the car. After turning around and bringing a knife to him, Blake approached the officer with a knife.

The man whose shooting left him paralyzed from waist down was never charged against Sheskey by state prosecutors. As a result of Blake’s attempt to kidnapped a child in his vehicle, the officer used deadly force, according to authorities. These children, however, were actually Blake’s biological kids.

Sheskey was sued by Blake back in March for unspecified damages over the injuries that Blake suffered from the shooting. A police officer’s gunshot apparently severed Blake’s spinal cord, causing him to become paralyzed. After months of surgeries and physical rehabilitation, he is still confined to a wheelchair after not being able to work or perform daily tasks.

During his son’s birthday party, Blake revealed he was able to take a few steps after the shooting a year previously. Now he is working with Edifye, a nonprofit organization he co-founded last year. The Edifye Foundation raises funds to support the bail process of professional athletes and other allies, organizes community events, and more.