‘On to the federal case’: Jacob Blake Sr. says no charges against officer in son’s shooting was expected

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - After a Wisconsin prosecutor declined to bring any charges against a police officer who shot Jacob Blake Jr., his father says the decision came as no surprise.

“No Kenosha law enforcement officer in this case will be charged with any criminal offense based on the facts and the laws,” said Michael Graveley, the district attorney for Kenosha County.

Jacob Blake Sr. reacted to the news.

“I understand what I look like in the mirror. We understood that it is impossible almost in the United States for an African-American man to bring charges against a Caucasian police officer,” Blake Sr. told WBTV.

Back in August, video captured the moments Blake Jr. was shot seven times by police officer Rusten Sheskey. In making the decision, DA Michael Graveley said Blake Jr. resisted arrest and refused to drop a knife.

The officer says he acted in self-defense.

Those claims, Blake Sr. disputes.

“They didn’t bit more fear for their life than the man on the moon. My son never lunged at him. What video they were watching, I have no idea,” said Blake Sr.

Blake Sr., who lives in Charlotte, says his son is getting a lot of rest and in rehab. The shooting left him paralyzed from the waist down.

He also says his son’s reaction to the decision was the same.

“He was cool as a cucumber because we already understood that was going to happen,” Blake Sr. said.

The shooting led to protests across the country including a rally in Charlotte as America dealt again with the topic of race and policing.

Jacob Sr. says he is thankful for the support in the Queen City and his next stop is our nation’s capital.

“We’re going to talk with the Speaker of the House, Speaker of the Senate...we’re going to change some laws. Some laws have to be reckoned,” he said.

The DA’s office also declined to bring any charges against Blake Jr. The Justice Department said today the civil rights investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

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