HAUNTING WORDS
Jacob Blake says he told his kids ‘Daddy loves you, no matter what’ after being shot seven times by cops
JACOB Blake says he told his children ‘Daddy loves you’ moments after being shot seven times in the back by police officers.
Three of the 29-year-old's kids witnessed the shooting in August in Wisconsin which has left him partially paralysed.
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Wheelchair-bound Blake has told Good Morning America about the shooting which came after cops responded to a domestic dispute.
Officers had been called to an address after a woman reported that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.
Officers at the scene tried to arrest Mr Blake, initially using a taser. When Blake opened the door to his SUV and was leaning in, a police officer shot him seven times in the back.
Speaking about the incident on Good Morning America, Blake said: " “All I remember at that point was kinda leanin’ back, lookin’ at my boys."
"I said, 'Daddy, love you no matter what.' It was the last thing I said to them at that point."
"I thought it was gonna be the last thing I say to them," added Blake. "Thank God it wasn't."
Blake’s three young children were in the back seat during the shooting.
A video emerged later of the shooting which left Blake paralyzed and sparked outrage and protests across the country and several nights of disturbances in Kenosha.
Blake's interview comes just a little more than a week after Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley decided Rusten Sheskey, the cop accused of shooting Blake, would not face charges.
Graveley said Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey, who is white, was justified in his use of force because Blake, a black man, was armed with a knife, refused orders to drop it and made a motion as if he was going to stab Sheskey.
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Sheskey stopped shooting when he saw Blake was no longer a threat, Graveley said, and immediately started giving first aid.
Graveley said there were 10 bullets left in Sheskey's gun.
Sheskey, a cop with over seven years’ experience on the force, was placed on administrative leave.
The National Guard was sent into Kenosha following the Graveley’s decision, which was expected to prompt potential unrest.
Kenosha Common Council approved a resolution last week, allowing the mayor to impose emergency measures including a curfew.
Fencing was erected around the local courthouse and businesses in the area have boarded up their windows. Cops have also closed off side streets.
Blake’s family also held a rally Monday night and marched with supporters, calling for Sheskey to be fired as well as face criminal charges and his conviction.
Jacob Blake Sr, Blake's father, urged supporters to stand up against police brutality nationwide.
"Let's stand up and make some noise," Blake Sr said. "Let's be heard around the world."
Blake claimed his son posed no threat to the officer adding he wanted Sheskey to face attempted murder charges.
"He tried to kill my son," Blake Sr said. "He didn't try to take my son down, he tried to kill my son, and he could have killed my grandchildren."
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Executive director of the community group Leaders of Kenosha, Tanya McLean, urged protesters to remain peaceful.
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"No matter what the decision is, we are seeking nonviolence," she said.
"We want everybody to come out, make as much noise as you want, but we don't want any destruction of property or businesses. We are for nonviolence. Anything else is not acceptable for this community."
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