Two killed as unrest rocks Wisconsin city after police shooting

Two people were killed and another wounded during a third night of protests in the city of Kenosha, in the US state of Wisconsin, after a police officer shot a black man in his back at the weekend.

The Kenosha Police Department said officers responded to reports of shots fired at multiple people around 11:45 pm (0445 GMT Wednesday), but did not release details about the victims or the circumstances of the shootings.

The third gunshot victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the police statement said.

The New York Times reported that a stand-off between protesters and law enforcement began late Tuesday and then descended into violence in the early hours of Wednesday.

The confrontation took place near a courthouse in central Kenosha, the newspaper reported, saying that police fired tear gas and rubber bullets after protesters hurled objects at officers.

As that scene calmed down, several protesters then reportedly began gathering at a nearby gas station, where men with guns had lined up to guard the property.
DPA, 26TH
AUGUST, 2020