On Friday, an almost exclusively white jury in Wisconsin ruled that Kyle Rittenhouse was not guilty of all charges of killing two men and shooting another man during the 2020 Kenosha protests.
On the evening of August 25, 2020, 18-year-old Rittenhouse was protested when a white policeman shot and killed black Jacob Black. His actions faced charges of recklessness, intentional and attempted killing.
The Illinois teenager also faced two charges of recklessly endangering safety, carrying a small medical kit and an AR-15 rifle on the night of the shooting.
His lawyer claimed that he was in self-defense when he killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum and 26-year-old Anthony Huber. He also severely injured Gaige Grosskreutz, a 26-year-old armed paramedic who was treating the protesters that night. CNBC pointed out.
“I bring a gun to protect myself,” Rittenhouse testified. “I don’t think I have to use a gun and defend myself in the end.”
However, prosecutor Thomas Binger argued in Monday’s closing remarks that Rittenhouse enjoyed “the thrill of walking around and telling people what to do, but didn’t have the courage or honor to support it. There is no legal authorization to do so.”
“You cannot claim to defend yourself against the dangers you create,” Binger Tell the jurorAnd added that Rittenhouse “fighted with a gun.”
The jury reached their “not guilty” verdict on the fourth day of the closely watched deliberations, and Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges.
After reading his sentence, Rittenhouse burst into tears and collapsed on his seat. Then he hugged one of his lawyers, and he told the trembling teenager to “breathe,” New York Post reported.
Governor Tony Evers sent 500 Wisconsin National Guard Kenosha will be on standby on Tuesday, waiting for the jury’s verdict. Protesters, some with megaphones, gathered outside the Kenosha County Courthouse.
This trial, which attracted national attention, became popular on Twitter, and people responded to the jury’s verdict.
