Jacob Blake ‘handcuffed’ in hospital, asks father ‘why did they shoot me’

Jacob Blake, who was shot eight times by a police officer in Wisconsin, has been handcuffed to the hospital bed, his father told CNN on Friday. Blake has been paralysed after seven bullets were fired into his back from point-blank range as he was trying to get into a car with his children inside.

The 29-year-old African American wept after regaining consciousness, his father told the media. Jacob Blake Sr. also said that his son asked him, “Why did they shoot me so many times.”

What has also disturbed the family, is that Blake has been handcuffed and his leg shackled to the hospital bed. “Why do they have that cold steel on my son’s ankle? He can’t get up, he couldn’t get up if he wanted to,” Blake’s father said during his interview with CNN.

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said that he could not imagine why handcuffs would be necessary, reported BBC. “I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary. Certainly he’s paid a horrific price already, been shot seven or eight times in the back,” Evers was quoted as saying by BBC.

The shooting of Jacob Blake is the most recent incident of police brutality that has caught the eye of the people. The incident comes three months after the custodial killing of George Floyd and has triggered protests across the United States.

Also read: March on Washington Live Updates: Jacob Blake’s father to attend protest today

A massive demonstration has also been planned on Friday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, where thousands of protesters from different cities are expected to arrive.