Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris believes it would be appropriate for officer Rusten Sheskey, who shot Jacob Blake, to be charged.
During an interview on NBC’s “Today” that aired on Friday, Harris was asked by Craig Melvin, “Is there a scenario in which that officer would have been justified … was justified in firing his weapon?”
“I don’t see it, but I don’t have all the evidence,” Harris responded. “The man was going to his car. He didn’t appear to be armed. And if he was not armed, the use of force that was seven bullets coming out of a gun at close range in the back of the man, I don’t see anybody could reason that that was justifiable.”
When asked if she believes Sheskey should be charged, Harris said, “I think that there should be a thorough investigation. And based on what I’ve seen, it seems like the officer should be charged.”
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Melvin noted that the Wisconsin Justice Department said law enforcement officials recovered a knife from Blake’s vehicle and that he was not complying with the officers’ commands.
Police officers also used a taser to subdue Blake, however, officials said it was not effective.
“Everyone should be afforded due process,” Harris said. “But here’s the thing, in America, we know these cases keep happening.”
“And we have had too many Black men in American who have been the subject of this kind of conduct. And it’s gotta stop,” she added.
Blake was shot seven times from behind in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday night.
Police officers said they responded to a domestic incident call, which culminated in the shooting of Blake.
According to the Wisconsin Justice Department, officers used a taser, but it was ineffective. Officials also say Blake admitted he had a knife at some point prior to the shooting.
A video that surfaced online shows Blake walking to the driver’s side door of his vehicle while the officers can be heard yelling commands. As he opened the door, Sheskey grabbed Blake’s shirt.
The video shows Blake leaning into the vehicle, at which point, Sheskey fires his weapon. Wisconsin officials say law enforcement discovered a knife on the driver’s side floorboard.
However, Blake’s lawyer has questioned if he was in possession of a knife and says he was not a threat to law enforcement.
As of Friday morning, Sheskey has not been charged.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and other agencies are investigating the incident.
