Everything we know about the Kyle Rittenhouse trial
CBSN
The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse is nearing its end, with closing arguments set for Monday. Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third in summer 2020. Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, was the first person fatally shot by Rittenhouse on August 25, 2020. He was shot four times. Rittenhouse claims that Rosenbaum chased him and was undeterred by his rifle, and grabbed the firearm prior to being shot. He had never physically touched Rittenhouse. According to the Washington Post, Rosenbaum was homeless, struggled with bipolar disorder and just that day had been released from a hospital after attempting suicide. They also report he had spent years in prison for sexual contact with a minor. Anthony Huber, 26, was shot in the chest by Rittenhouse. Born in Kenosha, he died four days after his birthday according to an obituary. Rittenhouse says Huber had kicked him in the face and struck him in the head with his skateboard. Rittenhouse said he shot Huber as he tried to reach for his weapon. Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, was the sole survivor of those shot by Rittenhouse that night. Moments after Huber was fatally shot, Grosskreutz was shot in the arm and said as a result he lost 90% of his bicep. He testified at the trial saying he thought "I was going to die." Rittenhouse said he reacted to seeing his handgun, which Grosskreutz explained to the court that he pulled out because he thought Rittenhouse was an active shooter. Count 1: First-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon Count 2: First-degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon Count 3: First-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon Count 4: Attempt first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon Count 5: First-degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon Count 6: Possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18
Rittenhouse and his attorneys claim he acted in self-defense, but the prosecution has painted him as the aggressor. In this case, the burden of proof will be on prosecutors to prove the shooting was not justified.
The trial heated up when Rittenhouse took the stand in his own defense. At one point, Rittenhouse broke into tears when his attorneys questioned him about why he fatally shot the first victim. He later told the court, "I didn't do anything wrong, I was defending myself."
Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.