Kyle Rittenhouse: Christian crowdfunding site raises over $500K as Kenosha shooting suspect's legal funds
A Christian crowdfunding website has raised over $520,000 in funds to assist in covering Kenosha shooting suspect Kyle Rittenhouse's legal fees. The site, GiveSendGo, was formulated after Rittenhouse was taken into custody for allegedly shooting at three Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 25, killing two people and injuring another.
The fundraising site is sponsored by a group called 'Friends of the Rittenhouse family,' and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The group had reportedly set an initial goal of raising $500,000. However, donations surpassed the goal on Monday, September 28, with over $524,000. The page reads: "Now, Kyle is being unfairly charged with murder 1, by a DA who seems determined to capitalize on the political angle of the situation. The situation was clearly self-defense, and Kyle and his family will undoubtedly need money to pay for the legal fees. Let’s give back to someone who bravely tried to defend his community."
In the latest update in the case, Rittenhouse is fighting his extradition to Wisconsin from Illinois. The 17-year-old's lawyer, John Pierce, during an online court hearing in Illinois on Friday, September 25, said that he planned to fight the request by Kenosha prosecutors that Rittenhouse be transferred to Wisconsin to face charges for the shootings. Rittenhouse, who allegedly shot and killed two protesters on the streets of Kenosha during a demonstration to protest Jacob Blake's shooting, has been portrayed as a courageous patriot by his attorneys, who claim that he acted in self-defense and was exercising his right to bear arms during the protest.
As demonstrators marched on August 25 demanding justice for Blake fighting for his life at a hospital, they sometimes faced off with armed civilians. The scuffle, however, took a deadly turn when Rittenhouse opened fire, allegedly killing two people and wounding a third, according to a criminal complaint. Within minutes of the shooting, police and emergency services rushed to the scene and chaotic videos of the incident began emerging on social media. The suspect, however, succeeded in slipping past a group of officers unnoticed. The teenager was later arrested nearly 30 miles away in Antioch, Illinois.
The teen appeared during the hearing on September 25 at the Lake County Circuit Court in Illinois through video link from a detention facility. The 17-year-old was wearing a grey mask to cover his face and a black sweatshirt. The teen's only remark during the hearing was a greeting to the judge, saying: "Good morning, your honor." The judge, Paul Novak, reportedly gave 14 days for the defense to review papers and file pleadings before the October 9 hearing. The decision was made after Pierce asked the judge for a month to prepare arguments challenging the extradition of his client. "We intend to challenge extradition by writ of habeas corpus," Pierce said.
Rittenhouse has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of two protesters — Anthony M Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum — and attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third. The teenager is also facing a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession for wielding a semi-automatic rifle. Rittenhouse will face a mandatory life imprisonment sentence if convicted of first-degree homicide.