Three months following the George Floyd murder, an incident that kicked off a hornet’s nest of social unrest, we have another highly questionable shooting. Again, a white law enforcement officer exhibits lethal force upon a Black man. And once again, the local community burns as the public cries for justice. For now, at least, Jacob Blake remains alive after his shooting in Kenosha, Wis., Sunday.
Jacob Blake Shooting Video Leaves Unanswered Questions
A video of the shooting went viral, sparking outrage across the country. It shows an officer shooting Blake in the back at point blank range, as many as eight times. Blake’s three children reportedly watched the shooting from inside the car; that alone has incited rage that seems to transcend the details of the incident. New reports also state that Blake may be paralyzed from the waist down.
But those details remain important, especially concerning the pending investigation. One part of that investigation will no doubt center on whether Blake had any weapons during the incident. Attorney General Josh Kaul refused to answer that question during a press conference, according to Fox6now.com. Meanwhile, several news outlets reported Blake actually tried to break up a fight prior to police arriving.
For now, the public’s reaction is based on a viral video without all of the needed context. Were there weapons in the vicinity or in the car? What commands did police give prior to the shooting? What did the officers see in the vehicle? There are plenty of questions that need answering first before rushing to judgement; though it seems a little late for that last part.
“As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident. We ask that you withhold from passing judgment until all the facts are known and released,” Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha Professional Police Association, told CNN.
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