Kenosha protests: Police name officer who shot Jacob Blake as photo emerges of teenager accused of murdering Wisconsin protester attending Trump rally
White House confirms it deployed National Guard to Wisconsin amid continued demonstrations
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Former Vice President Joe Biden said he has spoken with the family of Jacob Blake, a black man who was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin in a confrontation caught on video that has since sparked major protests, adding: "I told them justice must and will be done."
A 17-year-old Illinois resident was arrested and charged with shooting and killing two people and injuring one other in Kenosha, Wisconsin amid protests sparked by Mr Blake's shooting, with video footage showing a white gunman carrying a semi-automatic rifle and opening fire in the middle of the street.
The protests turned violent on Tuesday evening as people gathered in honour of Mr Blake, who was shot by police seven times on Sunday. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth later condemned armed "vigilantes" attempting to deputise for police officers in response to the protests, as local officials called for "additional guns" to be taken off the streets.
It was later reported that the shooting suspect was spotted attending a rally held in January by Donald Trump, who meanwhile announced on Wednesday that he would be sending the National Guard to Wisconsin after Governor Tony Evers requested federal assistance.
The White House confirmed on Wednesday it had helped Wisconsin in the deployment of almost 1,000 National Guard troops following the protests.
"President Trump condemns violence in all forms and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness," White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement after the Justice Department said separately that it had deployed more than 200 law-enforcement agents to the city.
Mr Trump has been pushing Democratic governors to request National Guard and federal law enforcement support to deal with unrest that has followed the killing of a black man in Minneapolis police custody in May.
In the Wisconsin case, the state's attorney general said investigators recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of Mr Blake's car.
"We have assisted Wisconsin in the deployment of almost 1,000 National Guard and over 200 federal law enforcement personnel, which include FBI and U.S. Marshals," Ms McEnany said.
Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec earlier wrote on Twitter that the law enforcement agents deployed to Wisconsin included agents and marshals from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The deployment, she said, aimed to "assist state and local law enforcement in the response to rioting and unrest and will continue to surge Kenosha with federal resources as needed and necessary."
Additional reporting by agencies. Check out The Independent's live updates and coverage below:
One dead, two or more other people injured
One person was reportedly killed and two more injured in a gun battle in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
The New York Times reported the death, citing Kenosha County sheriff David Beth. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted Mr Beth as saying one person had been shot in the head and another in the chest.
A torrent of videos posted to social media painted a confusing picture of what appeared to be two separate shootings. One man, wearing a green t-shirt, dark trousers and purple gloves, carrying a satchel and a rifle on a sling, appears in several of them.
'Vigilantes' in Kenosha, sheriff says
The Kenosha protests have drawn self-styled militias, patrolling the streets with rifles.
Usually white men, they have weapons slung over their shoulders or at the ready while standing guard outside businesses to protect them from looters or arsonists.
David Beth , the Kenosha County Sheriff, told The New York Times and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that one person was shot dead and two were wounded overnight.
"They're like a vigilante group," Mr Beth told the Journal Sentinel, though he said he was unsure if the man at the center of the outburst was linked to such a group.
Mr Beth predicted the main suspect would be caught, telling the newspaper: "I feel very confident we'll have him in a very short time."
Two dead and one seriously hurt, police say
In the last few minutes police have released a statement on last night's shooting.
The department said: "On 25 August, 2020 at about 11.45pm Kenosha Police, along with assisting agencies, responded to the area of 63rd Street and Sheridan Road for reports of shots being fired and multiple gunshot victims.
"The shooting resulted in two fatalities and a third gunshot victim was transported to a hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
"The shooting investigation is active an ongoing. No further details regarding the shooting will be released at this time. The names, ages and cities of residence for the victims are still being determined."
Blake's family makes emotional call for change
The family of Jacob Blake has made an emotional demand for racial justice in the nation, declaring: “This is real, America.”
As it was revealed the 29-year-old had suffered severe injuries to his spinal cord and may never walk again, relatives of the young man demanded action against the Wisconsin police officer who shot him seven times, writes Andrew Buncombe.
They also called on citizens in the country to reflect on the moment and to let it drive forward the campaign for meaningful change.
Blake apologised after learning of paralysis, mother says
The mother of Jacob Blake revealed her son started to cry and apologise when he learned of his paralysis during an emotional awakening in hospital, writes Justin Vallejo.
Speaking at a family press conference on Tuesday, Julia Jackson recounted the moment her son opened his eyes after being shot several times by police officers on Sunday night.
"The first thing he did when he looked at me was cry, and then begin to say 'I'm sorry about all this'," Ms Jackson said.
Jacob Blake's mother apologises to Trump
Julia Jackson, the mother of Jacob Blake, has apologised to Donald Trump for missing a call from the president.
It was not clear from her comments whether the president called back and the pair had a conversation, nor what it might have contained.
Ms Jackson also apologised for what she said was an unkind comment by a family member, apparently about Mr Trump.
She told CNN's Don Lemon: "For our President Trump, first I want to say a family member, and I don't know if it was heard or not, said something that was not kind.
"She is hurting, and I do apologise for that outburst that does not reflect our behaviour.
"And then also for President Trump, I'm sorry I missed your call. Because had I not missed your call maybe the comments that you made would have been different.
"I'm not mad at you at all. I have utmost respect for you as the leader of our country.
"Like I said before, and I'm saying it to him directly, we should always get the details from the right source before we start throwing bricks, or tweets."
Her comment may have referred to Mr Trump's demand that Wisconsin's governor use National Guard soldiers to suppress rioting.
Ms Jackson went on to say that politicians of all stripes should "set a better example" for the rest of the country.
Two people dead during Wisconsin protests
Two people have died after gunfire erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, late Tuesday evening, according to the city's police department, amid another night of unrest following the shooting of Jacob Blake.
The Kenosha Police Department said gunfire started around 11:45pm in the city and left two people dead. Another person was injured and was taken to the hospital. Their injuries are non-life threatening, police said.
CJ Halliburton, who defines himself as and independent journalist, shared a graphic video on his Facebook page, stating he saw the shooting right in front of him and assisted someone who was shot in the arm. "He shot the other guy in the head right there in the road man," Mr Halliburton wrote.
Tuesday night was the third night of unrest in Kenosha after Mr Blake was shot by police early Sunday evening. His family has called for no violence from protesters, but each evening has seen violence, the burning of businesses and cars, and looting by some of the people gathering.
Lindsey Graham asks why Jacob Blake didn't 'yield' to officers
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican of South Carolina, has questioned by Jacob Blake did not yield to Kenosha Police Department officers when speaking about the shooting.
"I don't know what happened there. Let's find out. It's dangerous being a cop," Mr Graham said. "I don't know why the gentleman didn't yield when he was asked to yield."
The senator made the comments when speaking at a press conference announcing the endorsement of the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, according to Politico.
When making the comments, Mr Graham added that he didn't "know what the facts are” for the case.
Mr Blake, 29, was shot by police on Sunday evening after they were called to the scene for a domestic disturbance. Cell phone footage of the event showed police shooting Mr Blake after he walked around to the driver's side of his vehicle. There has been no audio reported yet that shows if the officers asked Mr Blake to yield.
The shooting is currently under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
Beyonce joins the countless other celebrities and athletes reacting to Wisconsin police shooting
Beyonce has shared a picture of Jacob Blake with his three children on her Instagram while sending "prayers and thoughts".
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