In the trial of Kenosha teenager Kyle Rittenhouse, new witness testimony reveals that Rittenhouse shot the first of three men in self-defense when the attacker lunged for his rifle in an attempt to take it from him, as reported by Fox News.
This account was given by Daily Caller reporter Richie McGinniss, who filmed part of the altercation on his cell phone. McGinniss said that the man in question, Joseph Rosenbaum, was actively chasing the armed Rittenhouse and, upon getting close to him, lunged for his weapon.
“I think it was very clear to me that he was reaching specifically for the weapon,” McGinniss said on the stand. “He said, ‘f*** you,’ and then he reached for the weapon.” McGinniss further explained that, even then, Rittenhouse was initially reluctant to fire; the teenager, who was 17 at the time, “kind of dodged around” Rosenbaum’s lunges before finally taking aim and firing several shots.
Rosenbaum, a convicted child molester, died of his injuries. Two other men tried to attack Rittenhouse immediately afterward, with Anthony Huber knocking Rittenhouse to the ground and repeatedly hitting him over the head with a skateboard and trying to take his gun as well; Huber, who had previously been convicted of domestic violence, was shot and also died from his injuries.
A third man, Gaige Grosskreutz, approached Rittenhouse with a pistol in his own hand and aimed it at Rittenhouse; but Rittenhouse was quicker on the draw and shot him in the arm, disarming him. Grosskreutz recovered, and later boasted on social media that his only regret was not shooting Rittenhouse first.
Rittenhouse, who lived just across the state line in Illinois, came to Kenosha, Wisconsin that night with several of his friends to protect businesses that were in danger of being burned to the ground by Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and other far-left domestic terrorist groups that were actively participating in the then-ongoing nationwide race riots. Rittenhouse brought with him the AR-15 rifle and a first-aid kit, and was wearing blue rubber gloves. His actions have led to many hailing him as a hero, marking a watershed moment in the riots of 2020 when private citizens stood up for themselves after the police had, by and large, been ordered to stand down and not interfere with the rioters.
Rittenhouse, now 18 years old, is on trial for two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, and one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide. If convicted, he could face life in prison. The prosecution is attempting to portray him as the instigator of the violence, while his attorneys are arguing that that he was forced to act in self-defense.