Rusten Sheskey Has Been Identified as Kenosha Police Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake

A news release states the officer, Rusten Sheskey has been placed on administrative leave.

Following the news of the traumatic shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has identified Rusten Sheskey as the police officer who shot Blake. 

The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down and he’s currently recovering in an ICU says his family. 

A Huffington Post report identifies Sheskey as white. He reportedly shot Blake, a Black man in the back seven times as he opened the door of his car. Officers who were present were responding to a call from a woman about a domestic issue and attempted to arrest Blake. Benjamin Crump, the attorney for Blake’s family said he was attempting to stop the domestic dispute, reports CBS. 

According to a news release the officers at the incident were unsuccessful in using a Taser on Blake to stop him. When Blake returned to his vehicle, Sheskey fired his weapon seven times while he held Blake’s shirt. Blake was then immediately rushed to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.

Each of the officers who were present are currently on administrative leave including Sheskey. None of the officers who were there shot at Blake and no body cameras were used as the Kenosha Police Department has none.

Law enforcement agents found a knife on the driver’s side floorboard in Blake’s car, no other weapons were found. “During the investigation following the initial incident, Mr. Blake admitted that he had a knife in his possession,” reads the news release. Kaul also shared that law enforcement will identify the other officers “soon.”

Rusten Sheskey has been on the force in Kenosha for a total of seven years. Prior to joining the KPD according to Insider, he spent three years with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Police Department. 

The Department of Justice is handling the ongoing investigation of the shooting. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department will assist. 

Since Sunday, protesters have taken to the streets to march and riot as a response to the violent incident that left Blake paralyzed. On Wednesday, a 17-year-old, Kyle Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree intentional homicide after reportedly killing two and wounding another.

Numerous NBA players including Lebron James announced they wouldn’t be taking to the court Wednesday evening in Orlando for the playoffs. Elsewhere in Palmetto, Florida, the same night, the WNBA announced they wouldn't be playing any games scheduled for Wednesday. 

Global tennis star Naomi Osaka also released a social media statement Wednesday evening stating she wouldn't be participating in her Western and Southern semifinal in New York City due to Blake's shooting. Per ESPN, after her statement, the tournament announced it would pause play for the day.

Read her statement below.