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Blake drops civil rights lawsuit against Kenosha officer

Kenosha Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, 7 times in August 2020

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Jacob Blake Sr., father of Jacob Blake, holds a candle at a rally
Jacob Blake Sr., father of Jacob Blake, holds a candle at a rally Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, in Kenosha, Wis. Morry Gash/AP Photo

Jacob Blake has dropped a federal lawsuit against a police officer who shot him during a domestic disturbance in Kenosha nearly two years ago.

Neither attorneys for Blake nor Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey indicated in their Friday court filings why the lawsuit was being dropped, including whether a settlement had been reached.

Sheskey, who is white, shot Blake, who is Black, after Blake resisted arrest during the disturbance and appeared to turn toward Sheskey with a knife.

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Prosecutors later cleared Sheskey of criminal wrongdoing and dropped sexual assault charges against Blake that preceded the shooting as part of a plea deal.

Blake’s shooting sparked protests including one in which Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot two men and wounded a third.

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