Protests erupted overnight as Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old African American man, was shot in the back at least seven times on Sunday, August 23. Since then, the shooting has gone viral, sparking outrage throughout social media.

“Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement. “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.”

Kenosha, Wisconsin officers were called to a domestic incident at the 2800 block of40th Street around 5:11 p.m. In the video clip, Mr. Blake is seen walking around a gray SUV with two officers behind him with a gun positioned on his back. Before entering the driver’s side door of his car, the officers grabbed the tail of his tank top and shot seven bullets at him. In a police call, a dispatcher said that Mr. Blake “wasn’t supposed to be there” and that he refused to leave. The dispatcher later explained that she did not know any more information because the caller was “uncooperative.” 

Witnesses reported to The Kenosha News, the local newspaper that Blake was unarmed and was trying to break apart a fight between two women. Ornelas, who lives a block away from the incident reported that she heard the sound of gunfire and witnessed the last three shots. She described the scene as “chaotic” and that “a group of officers [were] rushing [the] officer who fired the shots into a waiting squad car, which sped away.” Protesters gathered immediately, later throwing bricks at windows and the police, who answered with tear gas.

In a statement, attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family, said that Mr. Blake was trying to “de-escalate a domestic incident when police drew their weapons and tasered him.” When he went back to check on his children, police fired their weapons at him. His three sons only a few feet away from him.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s division of criminal investigation announced on Sunday that both officers were put on administrative leave. The state agency added that they aim to put out a report to prosecutors within 30 days. However, the two police officers have not been identified due to unclear video footage. The police are not releasing any further information of the incident. An investigation has been launched by the state’s justice department.