Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, Was Shot and Killed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020

Rittenhouse traveled from Antioch, Illinois near Kenosha after hearing of Jacob Blake’s August 2020 shooting to join an armed civilian mob on its streets – while carrying an illegally purchased gun that authorities said violated underage purchase restrictions.

After an intensely watched trial, Rittenhouse was found not guilty of murdering Rosenbaum and wounding another demonstrator while acting in self-defense. This verdict caused outrage across the nation as questions regarding Second Amendment rights, violence at protests for racial justice and vigilantism arose from it.

Background

Rittenhouse was an 18-year-old from nearby Antioch just across the Illinois border who displayed an affinity for guns. According to social media posts related to him on various platforms, he showed his support for “Blue Lives Matter” and then-President Donald Trump.

Kyle Rittenhouse Net Worth had also participated in a program for young aspiring police officers and kept a military-style rifle at home in Wisconsin.

His family believes he was motivated to help and protect others; however, the prosecution claimed he was actively hunting an “active shooter” on the night of the shootings.

Gaige Grosskreutz was one of the people chasing Rittenhouse. Although initially he stated he was there to assist with medical supplies, later testifying he was presented with a gun from Rittenhouse who pointed it directly at him.

Grosskreutz lost 90% of his right bicep after being shot by him, leading to widespread outrage at gun violence, vigilantism and racial injustice in our country. The incident was captured on video, sparking national debate on guns, vigilantism and racial inequality.

Motivations

Right wingers have rallied around Kyle Rittenhouse as some sort of hero and protector of the people, even though his actions were clearly driven by racist motivations to use guns against demonstrators taking part in movements for Black lives.

Prosecutors attempted to portray Rittenhouse as an aggressive vigilante who brought an assault-style rifle into Kenosha that night in order to spark violence, while his attorneys maintained that Rittenhouse only shot those who threatened or attempted to harm him.

Prosecutors utilized cross-examination of Rittenhouse by questioning him on what he knew and believed at the time of the shootings. They raised an incident 15 days before, when Rittenhouse and another individual witnessed people exit a CVS store where they suspected someone may have been shoplifting.

Binger asked Rittenhouse during cross-examination whether it would be reasonable for those on the other end of his gun to fear for their lives as well. Additionally, Binger presented photos showing Rittenhouse hanging out with members of Proud Boys extremist group that has taken part in multiple armed rebellions across America.

Preparation

Kenosha County teenager had been released from jail several times over several months, so his first court appearance was critical to his defense strategy and preparation to testify about events. Thus, attorneys began working immediately on his defense strategy.

Mark Richards and Corey Chirafisi conducted extensive witness contact, collected statements, reviewed video footage, created trial plans and hired juror consultants in order to find an equitable jury pool.

Rittenhouse was seen by both parties as the aggressor, but his defense aimed to prove that those he shot feared for their lives. At closing arguments, prosecutor Thomas Binger asserted that Rittenhouse initiated the shooting by pointing his weapon at Rosenbaum and drawing fire upon her.

Final Words

Jurors found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts in Friday’s long trial, clearing him of killing two men and injuring a third in Kenosha on the evening of August 25, 2020.

Rittenhouse testified during his trial that he came to Kenosha after witnessing the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an African-American man. His purpose was to help protect local businesses amid unrest following this killing.

He claimed he brought his rifle into the chaotic crowd because people were pointing it at him and threatening to shoot. However, the prosecutor insisted he caused this event by pointing his gun directly at Rosenbaum and trying to use his rifle against Huber and Grosskreutz, two other people in the crowd.

Defense attorney Mark Richards played video footage showing Rosenbaum taunting others the night he was killed, and told the jury that Rittenhouse, fearing for his life, shot Rosenbaum in order to save himself – that it was the only way he could defend himself, according to Richards.