Crowdfunding To Help Pay For Rittenhouse Lawyer

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 17-year-old Antioch boy charged with first-degree homicide in connection with Tuesday night’s two fatal shootings in Kenosha, Wisconsin, will remain in custody in Illinois for at least another month. A hearing Friday morning in Lake County on the status of extradition for Kyle Rittenhouse was continued until Sept. 25 to allow time for Rittenhouse to hire a private attorney.

Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting Rittenhouse has hired the Pierce Brainbridge law firm — a firm that has represented the former advisor for President Donald Trump, Carter Page, and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. John Pierce, a civil litigator, told Reuters he and his colleagues at the law firm will be raising funds for Rittenhouse's defense through his #FightBack Foundation.

The high-profile lawyers did not appear at the Friday hearing, which was held via Zoom. Rittenhouse was represented by Jennifer Snyder, a Lake County assistant public defender. Dino Katris, an assistant state's attorney, handled the hearing for the state.

Another prominent lawyer, L. Lin Wood, helped launch the #FightBack Foundation, which touts itself as promoting "social welfare through advocacy for fair and just treatment of people and organizations with respect to their civil and constitutional rights," according to the FightBack website.

Wood represented Nick Sandmann, a Kentucky teen and Covington Catholic High School student, who sued media outlets over alleged attacks made when a video of him and classmates outside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., went viral. The FightBack Foundation will take in donations to fund Rittenhouse's legal costs.

Rittenhouse was arrested Wednesday in Antioch, where he lives, and faces charges in Wisconsin on allegations he fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, Wisconsin.

• Court Documents Detail Rittenhouse Charges

Detectives said they used multiple cell phone videos and witness statements to piece together the shootings, which took place during the city's third night of civil unrest. Rittenhouse was among a group of civilians — some armed — out on the streets well after the 8 p.m. curfew enacted by the city.

In the first video of the incident, police say Rittenhouse can be seen running across the parking lot of a car dealership holding a Smith & Wesson AR-15-style rifle. Minors are not allowed to open carry firearms in Wisconsin; and under Illinois law, Rittenhouse did not qualify for a firearm owners ID card, which is only available to those 21 and older. Just before midnight, Rittenhouse was approached by several people, including Rosenbaum, who attempted to get his gun away, a witness to the shooting told police. Police said Rittenhouse then shot Rosenbaum. It's not clear what led up to the initial confrontation.

• Rittenhouse Charged With Homicide In Kenosha Shootings

Video footage then shows Rittenhouse fleeing the scene while being followed by several people before tripping and falling, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities say Huber reached for Rittenhouse’s gun while he was still on the ground, and Rittenhouse shot him, too. Rittenhouse then sat up and shot Grosskreutz in the arm before again fleeing on foot, according to the criminal complaint.

In a Friday tweet, Wood claims Rittenhouse acted in self defense.

"'Video eye' does not lie. Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense," Wood wrote in the tweet. "Murder charges are factually unsupportable. An egregious miscarriage of justice is occurring with respect to this 17-year old boy."

Rittenhouse has been charged as an adult on six charges in Wisconsin. He has been in custody in Illinois since his arrest Wednesday and is being held without bond at the Hulse Detention Center near Vernon Hills, according to court documents.

If convicted on the most serious charge, first-degree intentional homicide, Rittenhouse would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison. He is also charged in Wisconsin with first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and possession of a dangerous weapon.

During the Sept. 25 hearing, lawyers will discuss whether Wisconsin law enforcement can transfer Rittenhouse across the border and up to Kenosha County to face charges. The extradition process could be quick or lengthy depending on how Rittenhouse's attorney plans to proceed, said Lee Filas, communications manager with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

His lawyers could waive his right to the hearing, which means he could be transferred to Wisconsin, or they could invoke his rights for extradition, which is a process that could take up to 60 days, Filas said.

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