An alleged Black Lives Matter rioter in Kenosha, Wisconsin reportedly pointed a gun directly in the face of Blaze Media reporter Elijah Schaffer while he was filming the demonstrations Monday night. The current state of unrest in Kenosha was vividly captured on Schaffer’s camera as rioters took to the streets and set the city ablaze in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, by a white cop over the weekend.
“HOLY SH*#: while interviewing this #BLM rioter in Kinosha [sic] he pulls out a real pistol and points it at my camera while explaining what we would do to cops if they rolled upon us right now,” Schaffer posted on Twitter alongside the video. “It’s been a while since I had a gun pointed at me even if it was just to make a point,” he added.
HOLY SH*#: while interviewing this #BLM rioter in Kinosha he pulls out a real pistol and points it at my camera while explaining what we would do to cops if they rolled up on us right now
It’s been a while since I had a gun pointed at me even if it was just to make a point pic.twitter.com/hjQqO9Ccbb
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) August 25, 2020
The shooting incident was cited as another example of excessive force used by police on a Black person. However, an investigation is underway and there are several conflicting reports about what really happened at the scene. Blake sustained seven gunshot wounds and is currently in stable condition at a Milwaukee hospital. His father has revealed that he is paralyzed the waist down as a result of the shooting.
Violent protests erupted across Kenosha starting Sunday night after video of the shooting went viral across social media.
Meanwhile, Schaffer made sure to share a string of videos on Twitter to show the rampant violence across the city, with rioters burning dozens of private vehicles as well as a youth correctional facility. The angry mob also destroyed a small business building that was totally unrelated to the shooting, it later emerged.
Twitterati exploded with critical reactions as the video went viral on the platform. “Did he just pull the trigger too? Sounds like it. Great trigger control from the terrorist,” conservative pundit Mark Dice tweeted.
BREAKING: Kenosha is once again on fire as National Guard are deployed
a curfew was recently put in place after a state of emergency was declared pic.twitter.com/UjAm2SeWgp
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 25, 2020
“Guys like this shouldn’t be allowed a firearm if they going to break so many gun rules! 1. Treat all guns as loaded 2. Keep your finger off the trigger 3. Never point your gun at anything you aren’t willing to destroy,” activist Evan Gray added.
Guys like this shouldn’t be allowed a firearm if they going to break so many gun rules! 1. Treat all guns as loaded 2. Keep your finger off the trigger 3. Never point your gun at anything you aren’t willing to destroy.
— Evan Gray ???????? (@GrayFoxSecurity) August 25, 2020
“People should see this video to see how quickly police have to judge a situation or die,” another user added.
People should see this video to see how quickly police have to judge a situation or die
— Sarah (@sarrr50) August 25, 2020
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) had to deploy the National Guard to assist local law enforcement in containing the riots Monday night. But despite no conclusive evidence pending investigation, Evers condemned the police officers involved in the Blake shooting and supported the protests.
BREAKING: Kenosha is once again on fire as National Guard are deployed
a curfew was recently put in place after a state of emergency was declared pic.twitter.com/UjAm2SeWgp
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 25, 2020
“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,” Evers tweeted.
Meanwhile, the three officers involved in the shooting incident have since been placed on administrative leave. The Milwaukee Police Association said Monday that while video of the shooting “may show some troubling things, protesting must remain calm. It must remain peaceful,” per NBC News. It added that city officials should refrain from rushing to judgment.
“By rushing to judgment, without knowing all of the facts, this will only fuel the cause of others to protest in a manner that isn’t peaceful,” the association said.