Kyle Rittenhouse Found Not Guilty on All Counts

David K. Li and Samira Puskar of NBC News wrote:

A Wisconsin jury on Friday found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges in the fatal shooting of two men during protests in Kenosha nearly 15 months ago.

Rittenhouse, 18, from nearby Antioch, Illinois, was charged with reckless homicide in the slaying of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and intentional homicide in the death of Anthony Huber, 26, on Aug. 25, 2020, during protests over the shooting days earlier of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse faced five total charges related to his actions the night of the protest and was acquitted on all counts.

Rittenhouse, in a dark suit and burgundy shirt, was overcome with emotion when the fifth not guilty verdict was read in court.

He doubled over and then hugged defense attorney Corey Chirafisi, who had to tell his client to relax and breathe.

Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder thanked jurors for their work.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better jury to work with,” said Schroeder. “It’s truly been my pleasure … just in terms of your attentiveness and the cooperation that you gave to us.”

The judge told jurors the system worked.

“It justifies the confidence that the founders of our country placed you,” Schroeder said.

The trial drew national attention, focusing on issues of gun rights and race.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers pleaded for calm but deployed 500 National Guard in anticipation of post-verdict protests.

Blake was paralyzed from the waist down. The shooting led to days of at times violent protests in Kenosha and across the country. Rittenhouse and other armed men said they went to Kenosha to protect private property during the protest.

The panel also cleared Rittenhouse of attempted intentional homicide for severely wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, a 27-year-old paramedic from suburban Milwaukee who was there that night volunteering his medical services.

Rittenhouse was also acquitted on two counts of recklessly endangering safety. He attempted to shoot an unknown person, known in court as “jump kick man,” who tried kicking the defendant in the face and prosecutors said Rittenhouse could have wounded another man when he opened fire on Rosenbaum.

Rittenhouse testified in his own defense last week and said all the shootings were acts of self-defense.