The city of Kenosha, Wisconsin was engulfed by violence early Monday morning after a man was shot by police Sunday afternoon.
Jacob Blake was shot by Kenosha police after he allegedly moved to recover a gun from his vehicle. A widely circulated video shows the altercation, which left Blake injured but in stable condition in an intensive care unit, per CNN. The incident triggered a wave of violent riots in the city, which required a National Guard response, NPR reported.
WARNING: Police fire several shots at point blank range towards the back of an unarmed Black man walking away and into a car in #Kenosha Wisconsin. Neighbors report that he was trying to break up a fight between 2 women. Why the use of lethal force? pic.twitter.com/Y0RWQ1y9Jn
— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) August 24, 2020
Amid the chaos, several rioters were recorded as they stopped a law enforcement vehicle at an impromptu armed checkpoint. The blockade of anti-police protesters, including one who wielded a rifle, was disbursed by tear gas after they held a truck full of officers at gunpoint for about two minutes.
This is insane. BLM rioters armed with semi-auto rifles have shut down the street in #Kenosha and ordered a Sheriff’s vehicle to stop. Video by @livesmattershow. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cDhmOBG1p9
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 24, 2020
Other videos captured during the violence that descended on the small city of Kenosha, which has a population of 100,000, show both a parking lot and what appears to be a large truck set ablaze.
#BlackLivesMatter rioters set a whole car lot on fire in Kenosha, Wisc. overnight after a wanted violent criminal suspect was shot. pic.twitter.com/2VX0fDZ1K2
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 24, 2020
Happening Now: Rioters in #Kenosha, #Wisconsin have set a garbage truck on fire. #KenoshaShooting #KenoshaWisconsin pic.twitter.com/Uodknpz3sG
— Yid Info (@YidNetwork) August 24, 2020
Another group of rioters were recorded as they launched concrete through local storefronts.
Black youths in #Kenosha, Wisc. are smashing windows and looting businesses tonight at the BLM riot. They’re using concrete chunks. Video by @livesmattershow. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/mpeYRKYclR
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 24, 2020
A police officer was rendered unconscious after he was struck in the head by a flying projectile.
Video appears to show police officer knocked unconscious after being struck in the head with a brick; Curfew declared in the city of #Kenosha after police shooting
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 24, 2020
Materials distributed to promote the ongoing anti-police protests in Wisconsin appear to encourage violence. “Do what you want. F– shit up,” one reads.
Sunday’s altercation was not Blake’s first encounter with the police. Just four months ago, he was charged with sexual assault and domestic abuse, according to court records.
Blake was also arrested in 2015 after he pulled a gun in a bar. Police were able to apprehend him, but not before he caused a soft tissue injury to one of the involved officers, per the Racine County Eye.
Meanwhile, organizers in Minnesota held a “solidarity rally” outside the Hennepin County Government Center apparently to express support for the rioters in Wisconsin.
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
