1. Introduction

On August 25th, 2020 Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old Caucasian male, was charged with intentional homicide of two individuals, Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, and aggravated injuries of a third person, Gaige Grosskreutz, while they were participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse had attended the protest armed with a Smith & Wesson M&P Mendota rifle, for which he did not have the proper carrying license. Since the incident, several aspects of the story have been disseminated in the media, with some people expressing their support for Rittenhouse and others denouncing his actions.

2. Kyle Rittenhouse’s Background

Rittenhouse was at the time of the incident a resident of Antioch, Illinois, but had traveled into Wisconsin to provide medical aid to the protesters. Rittenhouse suspected that he would be needed, since he had been trained as a medical provider. Prior to the incident, Rittenhouse had attended a pro-police rally in Kenosha where he was seen carrying the rifle and a medical kit. He has been an ardent supporter of police and has posted numerous comments in support of them across the internet, which his Facebook account frequently displays. Rittenhouse has also been active in the Illinois Youth Rugby League, where he is listed as a member of the Antioch Seawolves.

3. Kyle Rittenhouse’s Legal Defense

The legal defense for Rittenhouse has been spearheaded by attorney Lin Wood and has focused on the argument that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he shot the protesters. The argument hinges in part on an alleged video of the incident in which Rittenhouse is crowded by a group of protesters, one of whom shoved him to the ground. This clash, Rittenhouse’s defense argues, provided Rittenhouse with the reasonable cause to defend himself from a perceived threat. Rittenhouse and his defense have thus far been successful in arguing that he was acting in self-defense and that the charges leveled against him should be dropped. This argument has been bolstered by the support of numerous high-profile individuals who believe Rittenhouse was acting to protect himself.

To the contrary, Rittenhouse’s critics contend that his actions were premeditated and that his display of having a rifle at a protest was sufficient cause to charge him with crimes. The two individuals he killed and the one individual he injured, they argue, did not have weapons and were unable to effectively defend themselves from Rittenhouse. The presence of the rifle, and Rittenhouse’s willingness to use it, is seen by some as unacceptable for a peaceful protest.

4. Conclusion

The situation with Kyle Rittenhouse is ongoing, and a court case is likely to ensue. While the details are still unfolding, the situation has sparked much debate as to whether Rittenhouse’s actions were justified. Supporters of Rittenhouse argue that he was acting in self-defense and should not be charged with any crimes. Critics, on the other hand, contend that Rittenhouse escalated the situation and could have prevented the deaths of those at the protest had he not been so heavily armed. Ultimately, it is up to the courts to decide whether or not Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense and whether or not the charges should be dropped or he penalized for the incident.