A Wisconsin judge ruled on Monday that the three protestors Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly shot last year cannot be called “victims.”
Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder also denied Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger’s request to bar the defense from describing the two slain men, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and Gaige Grosskreutz, who was wounded, as “looters, rioters, arsonists or any other pejorative term.” The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Schroeder typically does not allow for “victim” to be used to describe a person until someone is convicted of a crime.
Binger claimed that unless evidence shows the three men were involved in illegal activity — and Rittenhouse had witnessed it — those terms are more loaded than victim. Shroeder denied the state’s motion, saying, “Let the evidence show what it shows,” according to the Journal Sentinel.
In August 2020, Rittenhouse, then 17, allegedly used an AR-15-style to carry out the deadly shooting at the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse claimed while at the protest, he was hit in the head and neck with a baseball bat and skateboard. While medics reportedly observed superficial scratches on his arm, they did not see any bruising or cuts.
The following month, Rittenhouse’s friend, Dominick Black, 19, was arrested for buying the AR-15-style gun Rittenhouse used in the deadly shooting. Black allegedly used Rittenhouse’s money to make the purchase in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, but the weapon was registered to Black’s name.
Black allegedly asked Rittenhouse to join him in protecting a Car Source business during the protest. However, reports indicated that the owner of the Car Source never asked the pair to guard his business. After the shooting, Black allegedly drove Rittenhouse back to Antioch, Illinois, where he was arrested a day later.
Rittenhouse, who is free on a $2 million bond, is charged with intentional homicide, attempted homicide, reckless homicide, recklessly endangering safety, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18. His trial is scheduled to begin on November 1.
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[Featured image: Kyle Rittenhouse/Antioch Police Department, YouTube Video Screengrab]
