Police Recover Weapon From Vehicle Of Wisconsin Shooting Victim Jacob Blake

Jacob Blake had a weapon on the driver’s side of his vehicle when a police officer, who has now been identified as Rusten Sheskey, shot him seven times in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sunday evening. Blake was leaning into that side of the vehicle when the officer discharged his weapon.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, police recovered a knife from the floorboard, but the agency did not say whether Blake, a 29-year-old black man, was holding the weapon when Sheskey shot him in the back, which left Blake paralyzed, according to his family’s lawyers. Video stills of the incident appear to show Blake holding a small object resembling a knife prior to the shooting, but the department has not confirmed nor denied that detail.

During the investigation, Blake admitted to having the knife, according to officials. Police didn’t recover any other weapons.

Sheskey, who gripped Blake’s shirt as he fired his gun at the man’s back, has been put on administrative leave. The officer has been with the Kenosha Police Department for seven years.