The opening statements in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse began on Tuesday, Nov. 2. He is accused of shooting three protestors, killing two at a Kenosha, WI protest. The protest stemmed from a white police shooting Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man (who survived) 7 times. Citizens took their outrage to the streets over several days of protest that had escalated to riot levels that included the fires being set and bsuinesses being looted. Rittenhouse crossed state lines carrying am AK 15 assault weapon at only 17 years old. The prosecution will argue that he illegally possessed the weapon. The defense is expected to say he was a concerned citizen joining others to protect local businesses and that he acted in self defense.
Initially the story was that the accused retaliated when he was hit with a skate board.
Now 18, Rittenhouse,, is charged with reckless and intentional homicides in the killing of two men and the wounding of a third with an AR-15-style rifle on the night of Aug. 25, 2020. He entered a guilty peal to seven charges overall.
To gun advocates, Rittehouse is a hero. Millions in defense funds wre raised by supporters who see him as a victim. The fact that he was carrying an assault weaponmand was under age without immediately being penalized caused some to claim racism.
WATCH THE TRIAL OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE HERE