Kyle Rittenhouse launches nonprofit with far-right Texans as he ramps up political engagement in the state
The activist known for shooting Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020 has created the Rittenhouse Foundation, which promises to fight for gun rights and includes leaders who have close ties to ultraconservative megadonors from West Texas.
Prosecution rests, Oath Keepers 1/6 case turns to defense
Federal prosecutors have rested their case against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four associates charged in the U.S. Capitol attack after presenting more than four weeks of testimony, videos and text messages they say prove the defendants were behind a violent plot to stop the transfer of presidential power.
Kyle Rittenhouse now says heโs going to Blinn College, after Texas A&M said heโs not a student at their school
Rittenhouse corrected himself on Monday saying he was attending the Brenham-based community college. Over the weekend, he made a splash when Texas A&M refuted his claim he was an incoming Aggie.
Rittenhouse seeks return of gun used during Kenosha protest
Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois man acquitted of fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during street protests in Kenosha in 2020, has filed papers in court to recover property seized by police after his arrest, including the gun he used in the shootings.
โNOT GUILTY SALE:โ Conroe gun store, shooting range announces holiday discounts following Rittenhouse verdict
A Conroe gun store and shooting range is facing criticism following a text message they sent to customers announcing a โnot guilty saleโ after Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges Friday.
Rittenhouse verdict comes amid a fraught gun landscape
The upcoming verdict in Kyle Rittenhouseโs murder trial for shooting three men during street unrest in Wisconsin comes against a backdrop of deep political divisions and expanded access to guns in the United States โ factors that some fear could lead to more dangerous encounters.
Rittenhouse draws slips to help determine his own jury
The jury deliberated a full day on Tuesday without reaching a verdict at Kyle Rittenhouse's murder trial after two weeks of testimony in which they were given starkly different portrayals of his actions the night he shot three men on the streets of Kenosha.
EXPLAINER: Did Rittenhouse lawyers do enough to prevail?
When Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand to testify about his actions the night he shot three men on the streets of Kenosha โ sobbing and seemingly unable to continue as he approached the critical moment where he shot the first man โ it was one of the most compelling moments in his two-week murder trial.
Pathologist: Rittenhouse shot first man at close range
A forensic pathologist says the first man killed by Kyle Rittenhouse during a night of turbulent protests in Kenosha was shot at close range of just a few feet and had soot injuries that could indicate he had his hand over the barrel of Rittenhouseโs gun.
EXPLAINER: Prosecutors play up Rittenhouse inexperience
Prosecutors trying to convict Kyle Rittenhouse of murder are trying to paint the Illinois man as an inexperienced teen who misrepresented his age and medical training to other armed civilians in his group on the night he shot three men during a protest against police brutality in Wisconsin last year.
Witnesses: Threat, lunge for gun from 1st Rittenhouse victim
Witnesses at Kyle Rittenhouse's murder trial say the first man shot on the streets of Kenosha was โhyperaggressive," threatened to kill Rittenhouse and another man who were patrolling with guns, and later lunged for Rittenhouseโs gun in an attempt to take it away.
EXPLAINER: Rittenhouse plane part of widespread surveillance
The FBI surveillance plane that captured footage of the night Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year was part of a wider government strategy to keep tabs on demonstrations against racial injustice.
Prosecutors show Rittenhouse trial jurors video of shootings
The jury at Kyle Rittenhouseโs murder trial over shootings on the streets of Kenosha watched one of the central pieces of video evidence Wednesday โ footage of a man chasing Rittenhouse and throwing a plastic bag at him just before the man was gunned down.
Virginia city fires police officer over Rittenhouse donation
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) โ The Virginia city of Norfolk has fired a police lieutenant after news reports that said he donated to and expressed support for Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager accused of killing two people during a police brutality protest in Wisconsin last summer. City officials announced Tuesday that police Lt. William Kelly had been โrelieved of dutyโ after an internal investigation. City Manager Chip Filer called remarks Kelly apparently made in support of Rittenhouse โegregious.โ Kelly can appeal the firing. The Associated Press attempted to reach him by phone. It wasnโt immediately clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
Kenosha police: 55 more charged for violence during protests
Protests have erupted following the police shooting of Jacob Blake a day earlier. Kenosha police say 55 people are facing charges related to violent demonstrations after the police shooting of Jacob Blake last summer. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)KENOSHA, Wis. โ Fifty-five people are facing charges related to violent demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake last summer, police said Friday. The violent protests in Kenosha lasted for several nights. Miskinis said 49 adults and six minors are facing charges including arson, burglary, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, criminal damage and disorderly conduct.
Judge declines new arrest warrant for Kyle Rittenhouse
In this screen grab from live stream video, Attorney Mark Richards, left, with his client Kyle Rittenhouse, right, speak during an arrest hearing in Kenosha County Court in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder is refusing prosecutors' request to issue a new arrest warrant for Rittenhouse who's accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a Wisconsin police brutality protest last summer. In addition to a new arrest warrant, Binger asked Judge Bruce Schroeder to increase Rittenhouse's bail by $200,000. Binger countered that Rittenhouse doesn't live in Kenosha County so the sheriff can't touch him. Huber's father, John, told the judge during the hearing that he thinks Rittenhouse's bail should be set at $4 million.
Wisconsin prosecutors seek Rittenhouse arrest, higher bond
Kyle Rittenhouse failed to inform the court of his change of address within 48 hours of moving, Kenosha County prosecutors alleged in a motion filed with Judge Bruce Schroeder. Rittenhouse, who is white, fled to his home in Antioch, Illinois, but turned himself into police there the next day. Five men at the bar also serenaded Rittenhouse with a song that has become the anthem of neo-fascist group the Proud Boys, prosecutors alleged. When Rittenhouse was released from jail in November, police told defense attorneys not to provide the safe house address, Richards said. Richards stressed that Rittenhouse has made all his court appearances and is in constant contact with him.
Jacob Blake says he was ready to surrender before being shot
A police officer shot Blake in the back multiple times after responding to a domestic dispute on Aug. 23, 2020. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, a Wisconsin prosecutor declined to file criminal charges against the officer who shot Blake. Blake said he was prepared to surrender once he put the knife in the vehicle. Officer Rusten Sheskey told investigators that he feared that Blake was going to stab him, so he opened fire. In the โGood Morning Americaโ interview, Blake, who was shot seven times, said he shouldn't have grabbed his knife.
Activists in Kenosha move carefully after US Capitol chaos
The street protests went on for several nights, sometimes turning violent as self-styled militia heeded social media messages to protect businesses. Prosecutors say Illinois teen Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire during one of the protests, killing two people and wounding a third. Blake's family and activists reacted with anger and disappointment, but initial protests were subdued. There's evidence police in Kenosha support them.โKenosha police were captured on cellphone video during the August protest thanking militia members โ and Rittenhouse โ for coming to the city. She alleges the city and Kenosha County were negligent in their response to the unrest.
No charges against Wisconsin officer who shot Jacob Blake
(Kenosha County Court via AP, File)A Wisconsin prosecutor announced Tuesday that he will not file criminal charges against a white police officer who shot a Black man in the back in Kenosha last summer, leaving him paralyzed and setting off sometimes violent protests in the city. Officer Rusten Sheskeyโs shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 23, captured on bystander video, turned the nationโs spotlight on Wisconsin during a summer marked by protests over police brutality and racism. Cellphone video shows Blake walking to the driver-side door of an SUV as officers follow him with guns drawn, shouting. Sheskeyโs attorney, Brendan Matthews, said Sheskey fired because Blake started turning toward the officer while holding a knife. Bystander video showed Rittenhouse shooting Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounding a third man.
No charges against Wisconsin officer who shot Jacob Blake
Officer Rusten Sheskey said he โfeared Jacob Blake was going to stab him with the knife" as he tried to stop Blake from fleeing the scene. The shooting of Blake, captured on bystander video, turned the nationโs spotlight on Wisconsin during a summer marked by protests over police brutality and racism. Sheskey fired seven times, hitting Blake in the back four times and in the side three times, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Bystander video showed Rittenhouse shooting Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounding a third man. Also, corrects prosecutorโs narrative to show he asserted that Blake, not Sheskey, twisted toward the officer.
Wisconsin city braces for protest as charging decision looms
Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Jacob Blake seven times on Aug. 23 as Blake was about to get into an SUV during a domestic dispute. Tony Evers activated 500 National Guard troops to help Kenosha authorities when the decision is announced. โOur members of the National Guard will be on hand to support local first responders, ensure Kenoshans are able to assemble safely, and to protect critical infrastructure as necessary,โ Evers said in a statement. The family said it's taken too long for a charging decision, and the precautions suggest that Sheskey won't be charged. โWhat is the National Guard for?โ Jacob Blake Sr. said.
California attorney withdraws from Rittenhouse criminal case
In this screen grab from live stream video, Kyle Rittenhouse, left, appears with his attorney, Mark Richards during a hearing at Kenosha County Court in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Thursday's ruling by Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Loren Keating came after a contentious hearing during which Rittenhouse's attorney sought to show that the teen had acted in self-defense. Pierce has also worked to help secure the $2 million bail for Rittenhouse, who was bound over Thursday for trial. He said that Wisconsin attorney Mark Richards will handle the criminal case. A Kenosha County court commissioner on Thursday found probable cause to proceed with the case and rejected a defense motion to dismiss a reckless endangerment and gun charge against Rittenhouse.
Court: Rittenhouse bound over for trial in protest shootings
In this screen grab from live stream video, Kyle Rittenhouse, left, appears with his attorney, Mark Richards during a hearing at Kenosha County Court in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. A court commissioner has ruled that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial for the Illinois teenager accused of killing two men during an August protest in Wisconsin. Thursday's ruling by Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Loren Keating came after a contentious hearing during which Rittenhouse's attorney sought to show that the teen had acted in self-defense. During a preliminary hearing conducted via video, Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Loren Keating found that there was enough probable cause for the case to proceed to trial. The photos showed Rittenhouse running from another protester who had a gun, and Rittenhouse on the ground as Huber struck him with a skateboard.
Bail set at $2M for teen accused in Wisconsin shootings
Court Commissioner Loren Keating has set cash bail for Rittenhosue, accused of killing two people in August during a protest in Wisconsin at $2 million. He was extradited to Wisconsin on Friday and made his initial court appearance in Kenosha County on Monday afternoon. Richards also argued that Rittenhouse tried to turn himself in seconds after the shootings but officers ignored him. He asked the commissioner to set bail between $4 million and $10 million. Grosskreutz's attorney, Kimberley Motley, asked for $4 million bail, calling Rittenhouse's behavior โinexcusable.โKeating set bail at $2 million, saying Rittenhouse has no ties to Kenosha, he fled the state after the shootings and he faces life in prison if convicted.
Kenosha prepares for election, two months after unrest
Yet two months after street violence shook Kenosha, far more businesses have taken their plywood down. Kyle Rittenhouse, a white 17-year-old who came to Kenosha that day with a semiautomatic rifle, is charged in the shootings. He was among a number of armed white men who came to Kenosha, saying they wanted to protect property during the unrest. Trump won Kenosha County in the 2016 elections by fewer than 300 votes, while the city of Kenosha went solidly for Hillary Clinton. โIโm always going to be concerned about violence,โ said Andy Berg, a member of the Kenosha County board of supervisors.
Teen told police where to find gun used in Kenosha shootings
Rittenhouse also told police that the firearm he used was in the trunk of his friend's car, parked at the Rittenhouse's family apartment in Antioch. The stepfather told police that his stepson told him he had found himself a job guarding a business. Rittenhouse also told police that he had been hired as security for a Kenosha business and that he carried the rifle to protect himself. Rittenhouse told police that he had been chased by a man whom he had tried to stop hitting windows. The teenager had tried to surrender to a Kenosha police officer after the shooting but was told to go home, according to the records.
Illinois judge to rule on Rittenhouse extradition to Kenosha
Kyle Rittenhouse appears for an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Waukegan, Ill. The 17-year-old is accused of killing two demonstrators in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020, two days after a police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot him seven times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool)
Illinois authorities extradite Kyle Rittenhouse to Wisconsin
In his afternoon ruling that rejected Kyle Rittenhouseโs bid to remain in Illinois, Judge Paul Novak noted that defense attorneys had characterized the Wisconsin charges as politically motivated. โThis Illinois court shall not examine any potential political impact a Wisconsin District Attorney potentially considered in his charging decision,โ Novakโs six-page ruling said. The ruling and speedy transfer came several hours after a hearing Friday morning in which Judge Novak heard arguments for and against extradition. Without witnesses from either side, the part of Friday's hearing meant for evidence and testimony lasted less than 30 seconds, when Scheller handed the judge Illinois Gov. The newspaper also said Rittenhouse told police the rifle used in the shooting was in the trunk of a friend's car.
Relative: Black couple didn't provoke shooting by police
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)WAUKEGAN, Ill. โ The mother of a Black woman who was injured in a police shooting in suburban Chicago that left a Black man dead said the couple did nothing to provoke the officer. Williamsโ mother said her daughter asked about Stinnette, but that she did not have the heart to tell her that he was dead. Today, about 55% of the city's 85,000 residents are white and 17% are Black, according to census figures. In one racial flashpoint in the early 1920s, white sailors from a nearby naval base surrounded and threatened Black residents of a boarding house. ___The first name of WIlliamsโ mother has been corrected to Clifftina instead of Cliftina.
Extradition fight continues in Kenosha protest shootings
In this screen grab from live stream video, Kyle Rittenhouse appears via video during a hearing at the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Waukegan, Ill., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. Rittenhouse, who is accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis., is fighting his return to Wisconsin to face homicide charges. (Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court via AP)
Extradition fight continues in Kenosha protest shootings
Kyle Rittenhouse appeared on streaming video and wore a face mask during a brief court hearing Friday in Lake County, Illinois. Judge Paul Novak scheduled an Oct. 30 hearing on the extradition request, though prosecutors told Novak they were prepared to move faster. They also argued that Wisconsin prosecutors and Illinois authorities didnโt follow legal technicalities required for extradition. Legal experts had questioned what basis Rittenhouse's attorneys could use to fight his extradition, which is usually an uncontested step. Rittenhouseโs extradition would not be an issue if he had been arrested in Kenosha the night of the shootings.
Teen charged in Kenosha shootings fights extradition
In this screen grab from live stream video, Kyle Rittenhouse appears via video during a hearing at the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Waukegan, Ill., on Sept. 25, 2020, in his case. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis., is fighting his return to Wisconsin to face homicide charges that could put him in prison for life. (Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court via AP)
Teen charged in Kenosha shootings fights extradition
One of Rittenhouse's attorneys, John Pierce, made clear that he is opposing Rittenhouse's return to Wisconsin to face the charges. J.B. Pritzker had signed a warrant to return Rittenhouse to Wisconsin after a request from Wisconsin Gov. It also could force prosecutors to provide more details about their case against Rittenhouse in support of extradition, he said. Rittenhouseโs extradition would not be an issue if he had been arrested in Kenosha the night of the shootings. A big boost came last month when Pierce defended Rittenhouse in an interview with Fox Newsโ Tucker Carlson.
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, accused in killing of protesters listed in โheroโ assignment at Dallas ISD high school
DALLAS โ A Dallas school district is investigating a high school English teacher who asked students to write about a modern-day hero and listed the 17-year-old accused of killing two people during Wisconsin protests as one possible option. Kyle Rittenhouse has been accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding another in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The writing assignment also listed Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the protesters Rittenhouse is accused of killing; along with Mahatma Gandhi, Cรฉsar Chรกvez, Malcolm X and George Floyd. The Dallas Independent School District did not release the name of the W. T. White High School teacher who assigned the report. In a statement, the district said: โAn unapproved assignment posted in Google Classroom yesterday has been brought to our attention.
More than 250 arrested since Blake shooting in Wisconsin
KENOSHA, Wis. โ More than 250 people have been arrested since the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, with more than half from outside the county that the southeastern Wisconsin city is in, police reported Thursday. Two nights after the shooting, prosecutors say 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot two demonstrators and wounded a third. Kenosha police updated arrest figures Thursday, saying of the 252 people arrested, 132 did not live in Kenosha County. Four people arrested filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Wednesday, alleging that police were not arresting pro-police demonstrators like Rittenhouse who were breaking a curfew, while targeting others. The police said damage to city property was about $2 million and damage to county property was about $385,000.
Curfew ends in Wisconsin city ahead of visit from Joe Biden
The move came a day after the curfew was targeted as unconstitutional in a federal lawsuit and the day before former Vice President Joe Biden planned to visit, marking his first campaign stop in Wisconsin in nearly two years. The curfew was enacted after Blake, a Black man, was shot by a police officer on Aug. 23. Biden also plans to meet with members of Blake's family, something Trump did not do, and hold a community meeting. I just appreciate President Trump coming today, everybody here does, Rode said. Trump has sought to take credit, although Evers activated them a day before Trump demanded they be used.
Teen accused of killing 2 thrust into debate over protests
By the end of the night, prosecutors say, Rittenhouse had killed two people and severely wounded a third. To some, Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters. The commander of the force said Friday over 1,000 guard members had been deployed, and more were on the way. In the scuffle, lasting just seconds, Rittenhouse shoots a third person armed with a handgun, according to the complaint. He later turned himself in in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, according to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis.