Kenosha County (Wisconsin) District Attorney Michael Graveley announced Tuesday afternoon that his office will not file any criminal charges against the officers involved in the shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man who was shot seven times in the back while leaning into an SUV where his children sat, CNN reports.

Blake had moved away from officers to the driver’s side of his SUV and leaned into the car with officer Rusten Sheskey having a hold of his t-shirt.  Sheskey shot Blake seven times in the back from point-blank range, paralyzing Blake.  None of the other officers on the scene fired a shot.  Sheskey claimed that he shot in self-defense because he was in fear for his safety.

Blake’s shooting set off a number of protests in the Kenosha area and around the country, as it was another example of police using lethal force against unarmed Black people who evidently posed no threat. 

Graveley stated that his office could not present incontrovertible evidence that would lead to a conviction of any of the officers involved.  He stated that he asked the Wisconsin governor to appoint independent investigators to help his office in the probe.  He also noted that a federal investigation is ongoing, which will have independent findings that may or may not support his determination.

The unrest in Kenosha prompted Illinois teenager Kyle Rittenhouse to travel to Kenosha where he illegally obtained an AR-15 rifle in a quest, he claimed, to protect private property.  Rittenhouse ultimately shot three people, killing two, during the unrest, claiming that he felt his was in fear for his safety.