Accused teen killer stays put
The gun-toting teen accused of killing two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wis., continued his extradition fight Friday with claims he’s the victim of a possible “political prosecution.”
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, appeared for a brief video hearing in his home state of Illinois as his lawyer pressed ahead with their unusual move of stonewalling efforts to send him to Wisconsin to stand trial on homicide charges.
Rittenhouse is accused of killing two men at a protest held just days after Jacob Blake, an unarmed 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer in a caught-on-video confrontation Aug. 23.
Before he allegedly shot and killed two men Aug. 25, Rittenhouse was seen in bystander video hanging out with heavily armed, self-proclaimed “patriots” who claimed to be guarding private property.
Speaking Friday during the extradition hearing, Rittenhouse’s lawyer again resisted efforts to ship his client to stand trial in Wisconsin.
“This is a very unique, extraordinary situation,” lawyer John Pierce said. “There is a massive amount of video evidence that shows beyond a shadow of a doubt this is not a legitimate criminal prosecution, it is a political prosecution.”
Prosecutors, meanwhile, told the court any further delay was unwarranted.
“The law is pretty clear cut on this,” Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Scheller said. “This case has been dragging on now, we’re already into October. ... We want a hearing as soon as possible.”
Rittenhouse’s lawyers argue he was acting in self-defense when confronted by protesters in the street the night of the shootings. In a filing late Thursday, they said Wisconsin prosecutors failed to meet all the legal requirements for extradition and that sending Rittenhouse would violate his constitutional rights.
Angelina Gabriele, Kenosha County’s deputy district attorney, said Friday the county’s documents “are in compliance with all legal requirements and their other claims do not have any legal merit.”
Rittenhouse’s prosecution has turned into a rallying cry for conservatives. His mom received a standing ovation at a recent GOP event in Wisconsin, and his legal defense fund has garnered millions in donations.
But others consider Rittenhouse a domestic terrorist whose decision to travel across state lines and face protesters while armed with a rifle incited the street scuffles that ended with deadly violence.
Rittenhouse has been charged with the first-degree intentional homicides of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26.
According to prosecutors, Rittenhouse shot and killed Rosenbaum after he allegedly threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, missing him, and then wrestled with him.
“I just killed somebody,” Rittenhouse said after the first shooting, according to cellphone video and prosecutors.
Rittenhouse later tripped in the street, and as he was on the ground, Huber hit him with a skateboard and also tried to take his rifle away, prosecutors say.
Rittenhouse opened fire, killing Huber and wounding another man, Gaige Grosskreutz, prosecutors allege.
The protest was one of several fueled by outrage over Blake’s shooting.
Blake was paralyzed from the waist down, and the three officers who were on the scene are on administrative leave.