Clashes erupted for a second night after video circulated showing 29-year-old Jacob Blake being shot and wounded in the back multiple times by police on Sunday with his three children watching.
Mr Blake, 29, was airlifted to the hospital in Milwaukee in serious condition, but local media reported yesterday afternoon that his family said he was out of surgery and improving. The footage and the lack of any immediate explanation provoked memories of the police killing of African American George Floyd three months ago in Minneapolis, which sparked massive nationwide protests.
Mr Barnes said Mr Blake "was actually trying to de-escalate a situation in his community but the responding officer didn't feel the need to do the same". The officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave, according to the justice department.