Crime & Safety
Rittenhouse Defense To Challenge Extradition To WI
The teen accused of fatally shooting two protesters in Kenosha, Wis., last month will remain in Illinois for now.
LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 17-year-old Antioch boy charged with first-degree homicide in connection with fatally shooting two protestors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last month will remain in custody in Illinois for at least two more weeks. During a hearing held via Zoom in Lake County Court Friday, Kyle Rittenhouse appeared with a mask on while in custody at a juvenile detention center.
Rittenhouse was arrested on Aug. 25 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.
His attorney, John Pierce, requested more time to review documents and challenge Rittenhouse's extradition to Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Rittenhouse's lawyers have raised more than $2.1 million to fight homicide charges filed against the Illinois teen. The Fight Back Foundation crowdfunding site, set up to bring in funds for Rittenhouse's defense, has a $5 million goal.
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Rittnehouse's legal team has also spearheaded a social media campaign that depicts the Antioch teen as an American "patriot" who simply acted in self-defense. Pierce's Twitter page includes tweets from himself, and others, including politicians, who back these claims.
During Friday's hearing, a Lake County judge granted Pierce 14 days to review and challenge the extradition. Rittenhouse is next expected in court on Oct. 9. The judge also granted a request by Pierce to be allowed to bring a laptop into the juvenile detention center so attorneys can review videos from the shooting with Rittenhouse.
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In a press conference outside the courthouse Friday, Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim said the legal maneuvering was very rare. He said he hadn't seen a request, like the one made by Pierce, in 20 years.
The Pierce Brainbridge law firm has represented the former advisor for President Donald Trump, Carter Page, and Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. 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 also 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.
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 (FOID) card, which is only available to those age 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.
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 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.
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