Jacob Blake, who remains hospitalized after sustaining multiple injuries, is now handcuffed to his bed despite being paralyzed.
Blake’s uncle told CNN on Thursday that Blake’s father visited the Wauwatosa, Wisconsin hospital where his son is recovering from at least one surgery. He was “heartbroken” to see that his son was handcuffed.
“This is an insult to injury, He is paralyzed and can’t walk and they have him cuffed to the bed. Why?” His uncle lamented.
Authorities have not announced any charges against the 29 year old who was shot by Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey as he opened the door to his vehicle, in which his sons were sitting in the back, officials said. He was later airlifted to a Milwaukee hospital in serious condition and is currently paralyzed from the waist down after the shooting.
Andrew Yang, a former Democratic presidential candidate and CNN contributor, said Thursday that he spoke with Blake’s father. He told Yang that he’s glad to see that his son is awake, but is angry that he’s restrained.
“His father actually used the words ‘chains.’ He said my son is chained up,” Yang told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
When speaking to his father for the first time since the shooting, Yang said that Blake asked why was he shot so many times.
“When asked what message I could share on his family’s behalf, #JacobBlake Sr. said to me, ‘Tell them my son is a human being,’” Yang tweeted.