Rusten Sheskey, the Kenosha, Wisconsin police officer who shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back leaving him paralyzed, will not face disciplinary measures from the police department and may return to his job, NBC News reports.
According to a statement by Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis, Sheskey was “found to have been acting within policy and will not be subjected to discipline.” The statement said the determination was arrived at by internal and independent probes.
“Although this incident has been reviewed at multiple levels, I understand that some will not be pleased with the outcome; however, given the facts, it was the only lawful and appropriate decision to be made,” Miskinis said.
Blake was shot in August by Sheskey after he reached into his SUV, where his children were seated in the back seat, after police were called to a domestic disturbance. A knife was found on the front floor board of his car and Sheskey, who was behind Blake was the only officer to fire his weapon.
Blake’s shooting led to days of unrest in Kenosha, which led to the murder of two people by Illinois teenager Kyle Rittenhouse who illegally obtained a gun from a friend to whom he sent money.