Kenosha Co. DA Michael Graveley says no charges for officers in Jacob Blake shooting

KENOSHA — Four and a half months after seven shots were fired by officer Rusten Sheskey into Kenosha’s Jacob Blake, the city’s district attorney is announcing no charges for Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey.

Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said Tuesday that he had decided not to charge Officer Rusten Sheskey and other officers, saying he didn’t think he could prove Sheskey and other officers weren’t acting in self-defense.

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District Attorney Michael Gravely says officers responded to a domestic abuse related call. The caller, a woman Blake had a relationship with, claimed he was going to “steal her car and take the kids.”

Officers and witnesses reported the same.

Gravely says officers are trained to fire, if threatened, until the threat stops. Officer Sheskey fired seven times.

Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian was granted emergency authority by the city’s common council, giving him the power to implement curfews, close streets, public areas, and other broad authorities to stop civil unrest.

In addition, Gov. Tony Evers has mobilized 500 members of the National Guard to Kenosha. The City of Kenosha has also announced road closures ahead of the charging decision.

Blake was paralyzed from the waste down.