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

Gunfire erupts amid Wisconsin protests

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:

Key Points

• Donald Trump to send National Guard to Wisconsin
• Officials identify officer involved in police shooting as Rusten Sheskey while providing initial account of events
• Joe Biden says he spoke to Jacob Blake's family, adding 'justice must be done'
• 17-year-old arrested for Tuesday's shooting spotted in January photo at Trump rally
• Lawyer confirms Blake had no weapon in his vehicle
• Two killed in shooting, police say

[27 August 2020 02:00 · Chris Riotta]

Jacob Blake’s sister gives powerful statement amid third day of protests in Wisconsin

The family of Jacob Blake have made a series of moving statements calling for justice, after the 29-year-old father of six was shot several times by police on Sunday, Eliza Ketcher writes.

Letetra Widman, Mr Blake's sister, told reporters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday: “I'm not sad. I'm not sorry. I'm angry and I'm tired.”

“I have not cried one time. I stopped crying years ago,” she said, adding: “I have been watching police murder people who look like me for years.”

“I don't want your pity, I want change.”

Mr Blake was left paralysed after being shot seven times in the back by a police officer, according to his father and the family’s attorney, Ben Crump.

[27 August 2020 02:30 · Chris Riotta]

Tucker Carlson says teen charged with killing Wisconsin protesters was trying to 'maintain order when no one else would'

Fox News host Tucker Carlson has sparked swift controversy after claiming a teenager charged with killing demonstrators in Wisconsin protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake was trying to “maintain order when no one else would”.

The television personality made the controversial comments as protests over the police-shooting of Mr Blake continued throughout the week, after video footage of the confrontation between a white officer and Mr Blake, a black man, went viral and drew national media attention. 

"So are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder?” Carlson said on Wednesday night. “How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?”

Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old Illinois resident, was charged as a fugitive from justice after police said he allegedly killed two people and injured one other person during a shooting amid Tuesday night’s protests. 

[27 August 2020 03:00 · Chris Riotta]

Video allegedly shows shooting suspect before fatal incident in Wisconsin

Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old charged in the killing of demonstrators protesting the police-shooting of Jacob Blake, appears to be discussing why he is out with his rifle amid the protests in a newly-surfaced video:

[27 August 2020 03:53 · Chris Riotta]

This concludes today's live coverage from The Independent. Thanks for tuning in.