Return of teen charged in Kenosha killings delayed
KENOSHA, Wis. — A judge postponed a decision Friday on whether a 17-year-old should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges in the killing of two people on the streets of Kenosha during unrest after the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake.
The Illinois judge granted Kyle Rittenhouse’s request to delay the extradition hearing to Sept. 25 during a brief hearing streamed online. Rittenhouse, who is being held, did not appear.
Blake’s shooting — which left him paralyzed and was caught on cellphone video — sparked several nights of protests in Kenosha. The protests devolved into violence and vandalism at some points, and the Kenosha police chief told reporters Friday that just under 50 people have been arrested. The National Guard was called in to help patrol the streets, and the commander of the force said Friday over 1,000 guard members had been deployed heading into the weekend when more protests are expected.
On Tuesday, the third night of protests, Rittenhouse, a white teen who was armed with a semiautomatic rifle, was caught on cellphone video as he walked Kenosha’s streets with other armed civilians, saying he was protecting businesses from vandalism. Prosecutors have accused him of killing two men who tried to disarm him and wounding a third. His lawyers have argued he was acting in self-defense.
Rittenhouse was taken into custody on Wednesday in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, about 15 miles from Kenosha. He would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge.
Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. Assistant public defender Jennifer Snyder, who was representing Rittenhouse, asked for a delay in the extradition hearing so her client would have time to hire a private attorney.
According to the criminal complaint, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, followed Rittenhouse into a used car lot, where he threw a plastic bag at the teen and attempted to take his weapon. The medical examiner found Rosenbaum was shot in the groin, back and hand. He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead.
Rittenhouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people who shouted that he had shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and video footage. Anthony Huber, 26, was shot in the chest after apparently trying to wrest the gun from Rittenhouse, according to the complaint.
Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, who appeared to be holding a gun, was then shot in the left arm after approaching Rittenhouse, the complaint said.
Another Rittenhouse attorney, Lin Wood, said Thursday that the teenager was acting in self-defense.
“Kyle is an innocent boy who justifiably exercised his fundamental right of self-defense. In doing so, he likely saved his own life and possibly the lives of others,” said Wood.
The weapon Rittenhouse was carrying belonged to a friend, according to a tweet from Wood.
The state Department of Justice on Friday released new information about the Blake shooting.
Authorities said the officers were responding to a call about a domestic dispute when they attempted to arrest Blake, though they didn’t explain why.
In cellphone video posted on the internet, two officers can be seen following Blake with their guns drawn as he walks away from them. One then shoots him seven times in the back as he leans into his SUV, in which three of his children were seated.
State agents later recovered a knife from the floor on the driver’s side of the vehicle, the department said.
Online court records indicate Kenosha County prosecutors charged Blake on July 6 with sexual assault, trespassing and disorderly conduct in connection with domestic abuse. An arrest warrant was issued the following day .
Patrick Cafferty, who is representing Blake in that case, said the warrant has been vacated.
Rittenhouse was taken into custody Wednesday in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, about 15 miles from Kenosha. He faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first-degree homicide.