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Most arrested during Kenosha protests not from city, police say

Volunteers paint murals on boarded-up businesses in Kenosha, Wis., on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, at an "Uptown Revival." (AP Photo/ Russell Contreras)

KENOSHA, Wis. (NewsNation) — Most of the people arrested in Kenosha demonstrations against police brutality since the shooting of Jacob Blake were not city residents, according to police.

Of the 175 people arrested during Kenosha protests after police shot Blake in a confrontation captured on cellphone video Aug. 23, 102 have addresses outside of Kenosha, police said in a statement Sunday night. The arrests include people from 44 different cities, according to Kenosha police.


(City of Kenosha Police Department)

Protesters have marched in Kenosha every night since Blake’s shooting, which left the 29-year-old Black man paralyzed. On Tuesday night, authorities said a 17-year-old from northern Illinois shot and killed two protesters in the city.

Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Many of the arrests cited in Kenosha police’s press release were for curfew violations, and also included possible charges for burglary, possession of illegal drugs and carrying concealed weapons without a permit. More than 20 firearms have been seized.

Blake was shot after three Kenosha officers responded to a domestic dispute call.

In cellphone video recorded by a bystander, Blake walks from the sidewalk around the front of an SUV to his driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns drawn and shout at him. As Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire. Three of Blake’s children were in the vehicle.

The Kenosha police union said Blake had a knife and fought with officers. State investigators have said only that officers found a knife on the floor of the car.

City officials have identified Rusten Sheskey as the officer who shot Blake. The Wisconsin Department of Justice later released the names of the other two officers, Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek.

Blake is being treated in a hospital.

President Donald Trump plans to visit Kenosha on Tuesday, even though Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers sent him a letter asking him to reconsider. Trump has yet to respond to the letter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.