An officer-involved shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, WI, on Sunday led to hours of protests that devolved into looting, riots and one officer reportedly being hit in the head with what witnesses described as a brick, according to a video posted on social media.
Graphic video posted by Twitter user @BotchlaUS on Sunday night shows a pair of officers walking around a police car amid a backdrop of fighting and small fires when the officer is seen suddenly collapsing to the ground, Fox News reports.
Other police officers can be seen trying to help the injured cop as people in the background are heard yelling, “He just got bricked,” and, “F--- the police,” the video shows.
Footage of officer getting knocked out with a brick in Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/zZYypCgyja
— Nick 🚩🏴 (@BotchlaUS) August 24, 2020
It wasn't immediately clear if the officer was from Kenosha Police Department or another law enforcement agency. His condition was not released. The officer was not wearing a helmet.
The rioting was sparked by a police shooting of a man at what is believed to be a domestic disturbance.
A person was hospitalized in serious condition following a shooting at about 5 p.m. Sunday by officers who were responding to a “domestic incident,” the Kenosha Police Department said in a news release. Police did not provide details about what led to the shooting, but said the person was transported to a hospital in Milwaukee for treatment.
Gov. Tony Evers on Sunday night condemned the shooting of the man, who he identified as Jacob Blake, saying in a statement that “while we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.”
The Wisconsin Department of Justice is now investigating the shooting.
Damage in the downtown area of Kenosha was extensive. A car dealership and the vehicles on the lot were burned, businesses were looted, and even the public library was attacked.
An 8 p.m. curfew is set in the city for tonight. Also, the National Guard has been called in. Gov. Evers said the Guard was being tasked with protecting infrastructure and providing security for firefighters, if needed.
