Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Eric S. Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, confirmed on Aug. 26 that, as indicated in a press conference held earlier in the day by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael D. Graveley, a federal investigation has been opened into the shooting of Jacob Blake by an officer of the Kenosha (Wisconsin) Police Department.
The investigation will be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and other state authorities, and will be overseen by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.
The federal investigation will run parallel to, and share information with, state authorities to the extent permissible under law. Federal authorities are committed to investigating this matter as thoroughly and efficiently as possible.
Along with Attorney General Kaul and District Attorney Graveley, United States Attorney Krueger and Assistant Attorney General Dreiband urged all members of the community to allow the investigation processes to develop all available evidence before rendering judgment. They also encouraged everyone to act peacefully and abide by the law.
Federal law enforcement is joined with state and local authorities to address further violence in Kenosha and beyond. Federal law imposes stiff penalties for arson, rioting, firearms offenses, and other violent crimes, which United States Attorney Krueger pledged to prosecute to the fullest extent possible.
If individuals have firsthand information to report regarding the shooting of Mr. Blake, they should contact FBI Milwaukee at (414) 276-4684.
For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales (414) 297-1700.
