Kenosha Wisconsin Shootings (Part 2) by Tom Reynolds

Shootings of three people (two fatally) in Kenosha Wisconsin occurred during the rioting that followed the Jacob Blake shooting.  This shows what happens when riots are left unchecked, public officials don’t do their jobs and people are  forced to defend property.  Beware of left-wing DA‘s.

Background

Per Pierce Bainbridge, the law firm representing Kyle Rittenhouse, he lives 30 minutes away in Antioch, Illinois and he works in Kenosha as a community lifeguard. Rittenhouse decided to help a business owner defend his property from rioters.  He was armed with a Smith & Wesson AR 15 style .223 rifle with a 30 round magazine.  He obtained the rifle in Wisconsin, after he decided to help, (but it is not clear how he got it).

Pre shooting

Per Bainbridge, a crowd moved towards the shops Rittenhouse was guarding, where they teased and taunted those protecting the businesses. After the crowd passed the premises, Kyle believed the threat of further destruction had passed.  He became concerned with the injured protestors and bystanders at a nearby gas station and went to it with a first aid kit.

1^st shooting

Per Bainbridge, after rendering aid, Rittenhouse received word that a second shop, down the street, was the new target. "As Kyle proceeded towards the second mechanic’s shop, he was accosted by multiple rioters who…began chasing him down. Kyle attempted to get away, but he could not do so quickly enough. Upon the sound of a gunshot behind him, Kyle turned and was immediately faced with an attacker (Joseph Rosenbaum) lunging towards him and reaching for his rifle. He reacted instantaneously…firing and striking the attacker."

A Daily Caller reporter, Richard McGinnis, was close to and behind Rosenbaum.  He told detectives that Rosenbaum was “trying to get closer” to Rittenhouse and Rittenhouse started running away.  He was chased by Rosenbaum and other people. Rittenhouse eventually turned (after a single shot was heard behind Rittenhouse) and faced Rosenbaum with his gun pointed down.  Rosenbaum definitely tried to grab the gun.  Rittenhouse pulled the gun away, raised it and fired four times as they came together. 

He initial shot that caused Rittenhouse to turn was fired by someone in the crowd, not Rosenbaum.  But Rittenhouse did not know that.

Immediate aftermath of 1^st shooting

Rittenhouse looked at Rosenbaum on the ground, then ran away with a cellphone to his ear saying, "I just killed somebody." Investigators identified Dominic Black as the friend Rittenhouse had called. 

Bainbridge explained. "Kyle…faced a growing mob gesturing towards him. He realized he needed to flee for his safety and his survival”.

2^nd and 3^rd shooting

Bainbridge explained that while Rittenhouse was running away from any confrontation, “Another attacker struck Kyle from behind as he fled down the street. Kyle turned as the mob pressed in on him and he fell to the ground. One attacker kicked Kyle on the ground while he was on the ground. Yet another bashed him over the head with a skateboard. Several rioters tried to disarm Kyle. In fear for his life and concerned the crowd would either continue to shoot at him or even use his own weapon against him, Kyle had no choice but to fire multiple rounds towards his immediate attackers, striking two, including one armed attacker”.

The official Criminal Complaint against Rittenhouse, based primarily on videos, says that Rittenhouse was running away and being chased.  Someone swings at Rittenhouse and knocks his hat off but Rittenhouse continues running.  Eventually, Rittenhouse trips and falls, and while on the ground, a man "jumps at and over the defendant" and Rittenhouse appears to shoot twice at him, but misses.

According to the complaint, Anthony Huber approaches him with a skateboard, trying to wrestle the rifle away while his skateboard makes contact with Rittenhouse’s shoulder.  Rittenhouse, who was still on the ground, fired at Huber, who later died from the gunshot wound.

After shooting Huber, the complaint says, Rittenhouse sat up and pointed his weapon at Gaige Grosskreutz.  When Huber was shot, “Grosskreutz freezes and ducks and takes a step back. Grosskreutz puts his hands in the air. Grosskreutz then moves towards the defendant who aims his gun at Grosskreutz and shoots him, firing 1 shot. Grosskreutz was shot in the right arm. Grosskreutz appears to be holding a handgun in his right hand when he was shot."

2^nd and 3^rd shooting aftermath

Rittenhouse got up and continued walking.  Cellphone video shows him still armed, with his hands raised, toward police vehicles. The police drove past him.  Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters that there was nothing to suggest that Rittenhouse "…was involved in any criminal behavior even though he was armed and walking toward police with his hands up. Someone walking away with hands up, that wasn't out of the ordinary," Beth said. "Officers [were] telling him to get out of the way. They didn't see him as a suspect ... no idea [in that moment] he was involved."

Rittenhouse is charged with first degree homicides, reckless endangerments and possession of a dangerous weapon while under 18. First-degree intentional murder in Wisconsin doesn’t require premeditation. It just requires that you intended to kill the person. The question is whether he acted in lawful self-defense. He can’t be held criminally liable if acting in self-defense, even if he intentionally killed someone.  There are, of course, legal nuances to this issue.  The Reckless Endangerment charges may be fallback positions if the homicide charges fail.  The Wisconsin statute on possession of a dangerous weapon under 18 is convoluted and actually may not apply to Rittenhouse’s situation.

Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden condemned Rittenhouse as a member of an “extreme, right-wing militia” and suggested Kyle might be connected to “white supremacists and white nationalists and Neo-Nazis and the KKK.  There has been zero evidence to support this, so far.