Where is Kyle Rittenhouse? Teen spirited out of 'dangerous' Kenosha after 'death threats'
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN: Kyle Rittenhouse became a free young man on Friday, November 19, when jurors at the Kenosha County Courthouse acquitted him of all charges. The 18-year-old had shot dead two men — Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, Anthony Huber, 26 — and wounded 28-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz, during racial unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 25, 2020.
He was charged with first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, and use of a dangerous weapon. However, after 25 hours of deliberation, the jury found that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense and declared him not guilty, which divided the country and sparked protests in some cities.
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Where is Kyle Rittenhouse?
Rittenshouse’s defense attorney, Mark Richards, has spoken about the death threats they have received after the judgment was passed. “I knew this case was big. I had no idea it was going to be this big. It takes a while to process what happened today. I haven't processed it,” before mentioning, “to me, it's scary how many death threats we've had. I was answering my phone on the way back from court in Kenosha. My office isn't that far. After the third death threat, I quit answering the phone,” Richards said.
The spokesman for Rittenhouse’s family told CBS that the teenager is currently living at a confidential location. Commenting on the teen’s future, Richards said: “He has to get on with his life the best he can. I think eventually some anonymity will come back to it. I don't think he'll continue to live in this area. I think it's too dangerous.” He also added, “I'd like to see him do well, and I hope that Kyle does.” Meanwhile, California's Governor Gavin Newsom was all bitter about the verdict. He tweeted, “America today: you can break the law, carry around weapons built for a military, shoot and kill people, and get away with it. That’s the message we’ve just sent to armed vigilantes across the nation.” In addition, the Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor not just criticized the result, but also slammed Judge Bruce Schroeder who was overseeing the homicide trial of Rittenhouse.
America today: you can break the law, carry around weapons built for a military, shoot and kill people, and get away with it.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 19, 2021
That’s the message we’ve just sent to armed vigilantes across the nation. https://t.co/yiVLN2v718
We have a difficult road to justice in America, and the verdicts we just witnessed in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial are just another example. While we can easily view this as a setback, we have to transform this moment. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/Ru4ZCcJ3T6
— Mandela Barnes (@TheOtherMandela) November 19, 2021
Mandela Barnes, the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin since 2019, said, “Over the last few weeks, many dreaded the outcome we just witnessed. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty is what we should expect from our judicial system, but that standard is not always applied equally. We have seen so many Black and brown youth killed, only to be put on trial posthumously, while the innocence of Kyle Rittenhouse was virtually demanded by the judge.” Huber's family also shared their disappointment and said the judgment "sends the unacceptable message that armed civilians can show up in any town, incite violence, and then use the danger they have created to justify shooting people in the street."