Closing arguments are set to begin Monday, and a jury will decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense or should be convicted on homicide charges.
The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse is nearing its end, with closing arguments set for Monday. Rittenhouse,18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third in summer 2020. Rittenhouse and his attorneys claim he acted in self-defense, but the prosecution has painted him as the aggressor. In this case, the burden of proof will be on prosecutors to prove the shooting was not justified. The trial heated up when Rittenhouse in his own defense. At one point, Rittenhouse broke into tears when his attorneys questioned him about why he fatally shot the first victim. He later told the court, “I didn’t do anything wrong, I was defending myself.” The night of August 25,2020, Rittenhouse attended a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after police shot and wounded Jacob Blake. Armed with an AR-15 style rifle, the teen shot three men, killing two and wounding one. The teenager was able to leave the city and return home to Illinois. A month later, he was extradited to Wisconsin after his arrest. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, lived in Antioch, Illinois, and traveled to Kenosha where his father lived, on August 25,2020. He testified that he went to the city that night to provide protection for local businesses, provide first aid, and patrol as the protests devolved into civil unrest. Rittenhouse told jurors he is now studying nursing at Arizona State University. The school reportedly clarified that Rittenhouse enrolled in online classes but has not been admitted to the university’s nursing school. He also said he had worked as a lifeguard in Kenosha and was part of an EMT cadet program where he learned CPR and basic first aid. At trial, he admitted that he falsely claimed to be a certified EMT on the night of the shooting. At a hearing Friday, his attorney said Rittenhouse suffers PTSD and is currently in therapy following the shooting. Joseph Rosenbaum,36, was the first person fatally shot by Rittenhouse on August 25,2020. He was shot four times. Rittenhouse claims that Rosenbaum chased him and was undeterred by his rifle, and grabbed the firearm prior to being shot. He had never physically touched Rittenhouse. According to the Washington Post, Rosenbaum was homeless, struggled with bipolar disorder and just that day had been released from a hospital after attempting suicide. They also report he had spent years in prison for sexual contact with a minor. Anthony Huber,26, was shot in the chest by Rittenhouse. Born in Kenosha, he died four days after his birthday according to an obituary. Rittenhouse says Huber had kicked him in the face and struck him in the head with his skateboard. Rittenhouse said he shot Huber as he tried to reach for his weapon. Gaige Grosskreutz,27, was the sole survivor of those shot by Rittenhouse that night. Moments after Huber was fatally shot, Grosskreutz was shot in the arm and said as a result he lost 90% of his bicep. He testified at the trial saying he thought “I was going to die.” Rittenhouse said he reacted to seeing his handgun, which Grosskreutz explained to the court that he pulled out because he thought Rittenhouse was an active shooter.
