Family of US protester shot dead to sue cleared gunman

KYLE RITTENHOUSE, who was cleared of murder after killing two people during anti-police protests in Wisconsin in 2020, is being sued by the parents of one of those who died.

The Huber family has added Mr Rittenhouse to a case they have brought against the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin and the police department in which they are claiming $10 million (£7.4 million) in damages.

Anthony Huber was shot dead with a semi-automatic rifle by Mr Rittenhouse as riots swept through Kenosha. Joseph Rosenbaum was also killed and a third man, Gaige Grosskreutz, was injured.

The acquittal of Mr Rittenhouse, who argued he was acting in self-defence, divided America with the verdict being hailed by conservatives including former president Donald Trump, who invited Mr Rittenhouse to his Mar-alago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Anthony Huber was shot as he struck Mr Rittenhouse with a skateboard. John Huber said that Mr Rittenhouse was an active shooter at the time his son intervened. “Unfortunately, Anthony wasn’t able to stop him and lost his life,” Mr Huber told The Washington Post.

Legal experts in the US said Mr Rittenhouse’s acquittal does not guarantee he will win the civil case, which requires a lesser standard of proof. According to documents filed with the court, police in Kenosha “deliberately funnelled” protesters towards armed individuals who were in the area.

Lawyers acting for Kenosha and the sheriff ’s office said the allegations were “demonstrably false”.

Mr Rittenhouse’s lawyer approached for comment.