HUNDREDS of protesters took to the streets of Kenosha in the northern US state of Wisconsin on Sunday night after a police officer shot a black man seven times in the back as his three children looked on.

Jacob Blake, 29, is in serious condition in a Milwaukee hospital after the shooting, which occurred in a residential area of the town, which has a population of about 100,000, at about 5pm on Sunday.

Officers had attended the scene in response to a “domestic incident,” a statement from the Kenosha police department said.

Footage filmed and shared on social media shows Mr Blake beside a car, walking away from three police officers, two of whom follow him with their guns drawn, shouting after him. Three or four women are also seen yelling in the video.

Mr Blake walks around to the driver’s side, opens the door and leans inside when one of the officers grabs his shirt and seven shots are fired.

It is unclear whether both officers or just one of them fired their guns. Mr Blake’s three children were sitting in the back seats.

The officers have been placed on administrative leave.

Wisconsin governor Tony Evers condemned the shooting in a statement on Sunday night, saying that he hoped Mr Blake would not succumb to his injuries.

“While we do not have all of the details yet,” Mr Evers said, “what we know for certain is that he is not the first black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.

“We stand with all those who have and continue to demand justice, equity, and accountability for black lives in our country — lives like those of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy and Sylville Smith.

“And we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with black Wisconsinites.”

Later that evening protesters marched on the Kenosha County Public Safety Building, chanting “no justice, no peace,” and were met by cops in full riot gear.

Tear gas and stones were thrown. It is unclear if anyone was hurt or whether cars that were set alight near the march were connected to the protesters.