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:
Cher says Jacob Blake's mom makes her 'proud to be a woman'
Singer Cher has praised Jacob Blake's mom, Julia Jackson, in a tweet where she announced what she would be praying for as unrest continues in Wisconsin.
"The Mother Of Jacob Blake,Is The Kind of Woman Who Makes Me PROUD TO BE A WOMAN. I Wish We Were Friends," she wrote.
Cher added she would pray for the Blake family while also praying "peaceful protests" happen in Kenosha as protesters react to the police shooting.
The tweet shared late Tuesday evening came after Ms Jackson gave an emotional plea to protesters to remain non-violent when reacting to the news of the police shooting.
"If Jacob knew what was going on he would be very unpleased. So I'm really asking and encouraging everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your heart," Ms Jackson said.
She added that she would be praying for everyone involved in the incident, including the police officers.
"We need healing," Ms Jackson continued. "... I also have been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country."
Jacob Blake's attorney says bullets 'severed' the man's spinal cord
In an interview, civil rights attorney Ben Crump provided more details into Jacob Blake's injuries after police officers fired seven shots at the man.
Mr Crump said that his client's spinal cord was severed by the bullets that went into his back. Bullets also shattered vertebrates in his spine.
It was revealed on Tuesday by Mr Blake's father, also called Jacob Blake, that the man was currently paralysed from the waist down. Doctors don't yet know if this paralysis will be permanent.
Lindsey Graham says Jacob Blake was 'asked to yield' before being shot seven times in back Griffin Connolly has more details into the senator's take on the police shooting:
'This is real, America': Jacob Blake's family make emotional call for change following police shooting
Members of Jacob Blake's family spoke publicly in an emotional press conference on Tuesday.
Andrew Buncombe has the top moments from that press conference:
'Miraculously it does appear he is going to survive': Attorney gives more information about Jacob Blake's gun shot injuries
Attorney Patrick Salvi Jr, one of the attorney's representing Jacob Blake and his family, has detailed how the man is doing following the police shooting in an interview with CNN.
Mr Salvi said that Mr Blake "may have been" shot eight times, which differs from earlier reports that said the officers' guns were fired seven times.
"He was in surgery all day yesterday," the attorney added. "He had to have additional hardware placed in his spine. the extent of his spinal injury remains unknown ... he is partially if not complete paralysis below the level of that spinal injury."
"But miraculously it does appear he is going to survive," he continued.
The lawyer also confirmed that Mr Blake had no weapon in his vehicle during the police shooting.
NBA coach ears up while delivering emotional message about Wisconsin police shooting
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers spoke to reporters on Tuesday night about Jacob Blake and the police shooting that happened on Sunday evening.
"What stands out to be is just watching the Republican National Convention and they are spewing this fear," he said. "All you hear ... Donald Trump and all of them talking about fear. We're the one's getting killed, we're the ones getting shot, we're the ones getting denied to live in certain communities. We've been hung, we've been shot, and ... all you do is keep hearing about fear."
"It's amazing to me ... why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back," he added.
Watch the emotional interview here:
Vice president might address Wisconsin police shooting in speech at RNC
Vice President Mike Pence is reportedly still working on his speech for the Republican National Convention (RNC), which he is set to give to tonight.
Mr Pence is in the process of updating his speech while he watches how events in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with the protests and elsewhere unfold, CNN reports.
Donald Trump called for the National Guard to be brought to Wisconsin on Tuesday so the officers could "end problem fast". He also tried to call the mother of Jacob Blake, but she misses his call.
Police investigating Tuesday shooting as potential vigilante attack after two people are fatally shot
Police are now investigating the shooting that occurred on Tuesday evening during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as a potential vigilante attack by a white male carrying a long rifle.
Cell phone footage showed a white male open fire in the middle of the street using a semi-automatic riffle.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that one victim had been shot in the head and another in the chest late Tuesday, just before midnight. Mr Beth said he was not aware of where the third victim was shot, but one video from the incident said someone was shot in the arm. Two people died from their injuries and the third remains in the hospital recovering from a non-life threatening injuries.
Mr Beth, after investigations reviewed the footage, said he was confident they would have the man involved in this shooting arrested soon.
Eye witnesses and video footage from the shooting on Tuesday indicated that police apparently let the man with the riffle walk by them without stopping him. Members of the crowd were reportedly shouting at the police officers to arrest him, but he walked by with the rifle slung over his shoulder as cars drove by to attend to the victims.
The sheriff confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that armed people had been patrolling the streets of Kenosha that last couple nights but he was not aware if the gunman was among them.
"They´re a militia," Mr Beth said. "They´re like a vigilante group."
Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who is black, slammed the ability for armed gunman to walk around on the streets with rifles and face no repercussions.
"How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks it´s OK?" Mr Barnes said in an interview with Democracy Now!. "People treat that like it´s some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles."
The FBI has been called to assist in investigating the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Democrat state senator releases scathing statement against Republicans in wake of Jacob Blake shooting
Wisconsin state Senator LaTonya Johnson, a Democrat, has released a scathing statement on Wednesday against her Republican colleagues after a third night of protests resulted in two people being fatally shot.
"I woke up this morning sick to my stomach, and angry that more life has been lost and injuries sustained while Republicans sit idle," she said in a statement. "This is what it looks like when my Republican colleagues fail to do their jobs."
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, called for a special session for lawmakers on Tuesday in a plea for them to pass proposed police legislation that would address use of force standards. A separate legislation would also ban the use of chokeholds.
But Republican lawmakers were more hesitant to make any rash vote in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting.
"Exhale," said Republican state Senator Van Wanggaard. "Everyone should take a deep breath. ... We must let law and reason, not emotion, guide the next steps."
This response frustrated Ms Johnson.
"People of colour are asked to 'exhale' or 'wait for an investigation' or participate in an empty task force while those in the Legislature while choose to ignore the recommendations," she said. "The question for us, Wisconsin, is when are we going to make Republicans do their jobs, or do we continue to sit idly by and watch this state burn to the f**king ground?"
Read her full statement here.
BREAKING NEWS: 17-year-old is arrested for fatally shooting two Wisconsin protesters on Tuesday
A 17-year-old Illinois resident has been arrested and charged by police for first-degree murder after allegedly fatally shooting two Wisconsin protesters on Tuesday evening.
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