Police fire on Jacob Blake: a knife found in his car, a teenager arrested

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Young African-American Jacob Blake, seriously injured in an apparent new police blunder that reignited the anti-racist protest movement in the United States, even pushing NBA basketball players to boycott, had a knife in his car, did know this Wednesday August 26 the authorities of Wisconsin. After the shooting deaths of two people in the clashes between protesters and police, which followed the blunder, a 17-year-old teenager in possession of a gun was arrested.

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Investigators found a knife in Jacob Blake's vehicle, which he was trying to take when it was shot by Kenosha police, the state Justice Department said on Wednesday. from Wisconsin, adding that no other weapons were found during the search.

According to the authorities' statement, police were dispatched to the scene in Kenosha town following a call from a woman saying that "  her boyfriend  " was at her house and "  was not supposed to  " be there. Once there, the press release added, the agents “  unsuccessfully  ” “  attempted to arrest  ” Jason Blake with a taser. The 29-year-old father had warned them that he "  was in possession of a knife  ", local authorities say.

Investigators have also revealed the name of the police officer who shot the young man seven times: Rusten Sheskey. He has so far been laid off with one of his colleagues.

Militias and self-defense groups

A reflection of growing anger, the processions degenerated into violence every night in Kenosha, with clashes between protesters and the police and numerous degradations. Despite a curfew, the deployment of 250 National Guard soldiers and appeals for calm launched by the family of Jacob Blake, this scenario repeated itself overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.

In this context of extreme tension, two people were shot dead and a third injured shortly before midnight in circumstances which remain rather unclear.

A 17 year old teenager, Kyle Rittenhouse, living in the neighboring village of Antioch, in the state of Illinois, about thirty kilometers away, is suspected of being the author of the shootings and was arrested with a view to his murder charge, local police said without giving further details.

According to local media, he was seen in the presence of armed men who present themselves as "  militias  " or "  self-defense groups  ", eager to protect the city. County Sheriff David Beth has confirmed their presence in the area, without specifying whether the shooter was from those groups.

According to videos posted online, the young white man was armed with an assault rifle. On one of the tapes, he appears to be running away as another youth crumbles to the ground with a bullet in the head. In another, we see him being chased by a group, falling to the ground, turning around, weapon in hand. Shots are then audible.

Trump castigates "anarchy"

The American president, who has regularly defended the right to carry weapons and to self-defense, a speech dear to his electoral base, did not speak about this dramatic episode, emphasizing the excesses committed by the demonstrators.

"  We will not tolerate looting, arson, violence and lawlessness in American streets  ," the Republican billionaire tweeted, promising, according to his campaign slogan for the November 3 presidential election, to "  restore the law and ORDER!  To Kenosha.

To do this, he said, the governor of Wisconsin has accepted the sending of new reinforcements, both federal police and National Guard soldiers, to this city of 100,000 inhabitants.

Biden says he spoke to Jacob Blake's family

His Democratic rival Joe Biden has adopted the posture of reconciler. The Democratic presidential candidate said Wednesday he spoke and promised "justice" to the family of Jacob Blake. “  Once again, a black man, Jacob Blake, was shot by the police. Under the eyes of his children. It makes me sick,  ”he tweeted.

The mother of Jacob Blake , who risks remaining paralyzed for life, also implored "  all those who use violence or destruction to stop  ".

Kenosha's drama follows in the wake of a major anti-racist protest movement born after George Floyd's death on May 25. Protests across the country have called for structural police reforms and a rethink of U.S. history to make more room for the suffering endured by minorities. Sometimes accompanied by looting and clashes with the police, they had run out of steam in recent weeks.

► To read also: Police firing on Jacob Blake in the United States: three NBA basketball games boycotted by the players

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