Kyle Rittenhouse collapsed to the floor Friday after a jury acquitted him of all charges relating to his fatal shooting of two men and wounding of a third with a semi-automatic rifle during 2020's racial justice protests in Kenosha, Wisc.
The jury determined that the 18-year-old acted in self-defense and was found not guilty on two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. Last year, Rittenhouse fatally shot 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum and 26-year-old Anthony Huber. He also wounded 28-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz.
The jury reached its verdict at three days of deliberations. The defense portrayed its client as a good samaritan protecting private property before he shot Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz in self-defense. Rittenhouse also gave a tearful testimony and claimed he had no choice but to shoot the three men. The prosecution, on the other hand, tried to paint Rittenhouse as a reckless vigilante.
Despite widespread video footage of last summer's events, the trial focused on whether Rittenhouse acted reasonably to prevent "imminent death or great bodily harm," the requirement for using deadly force under Wisconsin law.
After reading the verdict, Judge Bruce Schroeder declared Kyle Rittenhouse was released from the obligation of his bond.
Source: Reuters
