It seems fair to say that the prosecution’s case against Kyle Rittenhouse isn’t going well. That’s assuming their objective is to portray the teen as the aggressor in the three shootings that occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 25 of last year.
Two of the three people who Rittenhouse shot are dead. Joseph Rosenbaum threatened Rittenhouse, chased him, cornered him, and finally tried to grab his rifle before Rittenhouse shot him four times. While the lead prosecutor tried to portray Rittenhouse as chasing Rosenbaum, the evidence presented at trial showed that assertion to be utterly false.
The evidence surrounding the actions of the other dead rioter, Anthony Huber, is far more difficult to portray as anything other than self-defense. Huber attacked Rittenhouse while he was down on the ground in the middle of the street, striking him on the head and neck with his skateboard. Rittenhouse then shot him once, killing him.
Yesterday the jury got to hear from the only one of the three Rittenhouse attackers who survived. Gaige Grosskreutz had approached Rittenhouse after Huber had been shot. He was holding a handgun which he was carrying illegally.
Gaige Grosskreutz, who was shot in the arm by #Rittenhouse, is asked if I he had a permit to carry the firearm he had when he rushed toward the teen. “I did,” he responds. He is asked if the permit was actually valid.
“It was not,” he answers. #Kenosha pic.twitter.com/honc2xnA9F
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) November 8, 2021
Not only has Grosskreutz not been charged for carrying a firearm illegally, the police have shown surprisingly little curiosity about any evidence that may have been in his possession…such as on his phone.
Kenosha detectives had a signed search warrant, which permitted law enforcement to make a complete backup of Gaige Grosskreutz’s phone. During testimony detective Martin Howard disclosed that detective Antaramian met with Grosskreutz and failed to serve the search warrant. Why? pic.twitter.com/vFQX5vxwRs
— John Curtis (@Johnmcurtis) November 4, 2021
But yesterday’s headline-making testimony came when Grosskreutz was asked about what happened immediately before Rittenhouse shot him.
Rittenhouse was still down on the ground. As Grosskreutz approached Rittenhouse holding a GLOCK pistol, Rittenhouse pointed his rifle at him. Grosskreutz then backed away and raised his hands causing Rittenhouse to lower his rifle.
Grosskreutz then approached him again, and pointed the pistol at Rittenhouse. That’s when Rittenhouse shot him in the arm.
The defense, of course, asked Grosskreutz about the chain of events that lead up Rittenhouse shooting him. The idea of perjuring himself in the face of clear video evidence apparently didn’t appeal to him.
#KyleRittenhouse – Under cross-examination Gaige Grosskreutz agrees that Rittenhouse did not fire at him when he had his hands up and that when Grosskreutz pointed his own gun at Rittenhouse while advancing on Rittenhouse, is when Rittenhouse shot him. Watch: pic.twitter.com/HSSFoINLCE
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) November 8, 2021
Grosskreutz’s testimony, as you can imagine, didn’t please the prosecutors. At all.
Rittenhouse prosecution after witness Grosskreutz admits he only got shot after he drew his gun on Kyle and advanced on him pic.twitter.com/yvzeowUzF3
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) November 8, 2021
Maybe the most amusing aspect of this was how it was portrayed in the mainstream media.
It’s remarkable that four different editors used the same phrase to describe Grosskreutz in four stories written by different people. Quite a coincidence, huh?
Anyway, compelling evidence has been presented showing self-defense on the part of Rittenhouse in all three shootings that occurred that night. Some observers, particularly after the Grosskreutz testimony, seem to think the case is now over.
Keep in mind, however, that Rittenhouse is facing a range of charges; first degree intentional homicide, first degree reckless homicide, attempted first degree intentional homicide, two counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, and failure to comply with an emergency order from state or local government.
The evidence regarding the three shootings so far should go a long way to negating the homicide-related charges. But this is a jury trial. Anything can happen. There will be a lot of media and political pressure on the jurors to find Rittenhouse guilty of something, at least one or more of he lesser charges he’s facing. Stay tuned.