Teen Charged In WI Shooting: 'Job To Protect' People, Property

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Lake County teen who gave an interview saying he was there to protect people and property in Kenosha following days of unrest over the shooting of Jacob Blake is now in custody in connection with the shooting deaths of two people during protests Tuesday night.

In an interview with the Daily Caller prior to Tuesday's fatal shooting, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse is seen carrying a rifle and wearing a green T-shirt, explaining why he was parked outside a building that had been set on fire one night earlier.

"So people are getting injured and our job is to protect this business and part of my job is also to help people," the Antioch teen says in a video. "If somebody is hurt, I’m running into harm’s way.

"And that’s why I have my rifle because I have to protect myself, obviously …."

In video posted to social media later the same night, a person who appears to be Rittenhouse can be seen in a green T-shirt armed and opening fire on the streets of Kenosha before walking with his arms up down the street.

Armored vehicles can be seen driving past the teen toward the shooting victims. A man can be heard yelling, "that dude just shot all of them down there" as Rittenhouse walks toward police cars.

The shooting happened during the third night of unrest in Kenosha after video surfaced appearing to show officers following Jacob Blake before opening fire, shooting him in the back. That shooting has reignited tensions nationwide about three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and led to looting and protests in Kenosha. Police say two people — a 26-year-old Silver Lake resident and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident — were killed, and a 26-year-old West Allis resident was injured.

The names of the shooting victims have not yet been released.

• Authorities Identify Officer Who They Say Shot Jacob Blake
• 'The City Is Burning' Gov. Declares State Of Emergency In Kenosha
• 2,000 National Guardsmen Headed To Kenosha

Meanwhile, Rittenhouse was taken into custody as a fugitive of justice charge and on a warrant for first-degree intentional homicide Wednesday and is in custody in Lake County, according to authorities in Antioch, the department that arrested him.

Rittenhouse fled to Illinois following the Tuesday shooting to avoid being prosecuted on the charge filed in Kenosha County, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in Lake County. The teen is being held without bond at the Hulse Detention Center, according to court documents. A status hearing regarding Rittenhouse's extradition was set for 9 a.m. Friday in Lake County.

On Wednesday, social media erupted with information surrounding Rittenhouse, who apparently had a strong affection for law enforcement.

The suburban teen was a former public safety cadet with the Grayslake Police Department, which is a program for youth aspiring to enter law enforcement, Grayslake Police Chief Phil Perlini said in a statement Wednesday night. He said he could not comment further on the matter, but said his department is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kenosha Police Department on the investigation into the shootings.

The Facebook page for Rittenhouse, which appears to have since been taken down, showed photos of the teen holding a gun with the Blue Lives Matter emblem around at least one of the pictures. Other photos on his Facebook paid homage to fallen officers.

During a news conference Wednesday, reporters questioned authorities on a video making its rounds on social media that shows officers handing out water bottles to armed citizens on the streets and saying, "We appreciate you guys. We really do."

Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskini said he wasn’t sure what led to the incident but said he was not encouraging armed civilians in town.

“They weren’t invited to come,” he said during a Wednesday news conference.

Reporters asked police whether Rittenhouse had connections to any specific citizen vigilante groups, but police said they did not know. The Chicago Tribune reported that a vigilante group calling itself the Kenosha Guard patrolled the streets Tuesday night without the blessing of the sheriff's office. The Kenosha Guard released a statement saying it did not know if Rittenhouse had any connection the group.

Facebook has since removed the Kenosha Guard Facebook page as well as an event slated to take place Tuesday night titled "Armed Citizens to Protect Our Lives and Property," which garnered 2,600 responses, according to CNN. Facebook is now investigating online activity surrounding the page and the event and working with local and federal law enforcement.

Rittenhouse was one of "two individuals" from Antioch who were involved in the deadly shooting, according to a statement on the Community High School District 117 website. Neither of the individuals is currently associated with Antioch or Lakes Community High School, but one was enrolled for a short period at Lakes Community High School during the 2017-18 school year, school officials said.

Police plan to increase patrols and presence around the school following the shooting, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, authorities in Antioch were preparing for potential unrest in town after fielding several reports of social media posts suggesting problems may be in store following Rittenhouse's arrest.

"Our Village of Antioch is deeply saddened by all loss of life. Our hearts and prayers extend to the friends and family who lost a loved one," Antioch Mayor Lawrence Hanson said in a statement.

• Antioch Preps For Social Unrest Following Arrest Of Teen

The local police department is stepping up efforts to investigate the social media posts and keeping a watchful eye out for any issues — and asking local residents to do the same.

The village is asking anyone who sees suspicious or concerning activity to immediately dial 911.

As of late Wednesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office had not received any reports of protests or widespread issues related to Rittenhouse’s arrest or the Blake shooting, Lake County Sheriff Sgt. Christopher Covelli told Patch.