Attorneys for Kyle Rittenhouse have released new footage of the shootings he carried out during protests and riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, arguing that they demonstrate a clear-cut case of self-defense.
Rittenhouse, 17, is charged with intentional homicide and other charges for fatally shooting two and injuring one during a confrontation on August 25, the third night of protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man who was shot in the back and paralyzed.
On Tuesday, Rittenhouse’s attorney Lin Wood released footage outlining the defense’s version of events on the night of the shootings, in particular highlighting the events leading up to the first shooting, which was not captured on as widely-circulated video as the subsequent two shootings.
In a slickly produced 11-minute video released by Wood’s FightBack Foundation, the defense team argues that other shots were fired before and after the first fatal shooting, which killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum.
Rittenhouse’s defense lawyers argue that the teenager was running away (above with his gun) from a group when he started being chased by 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum (the man pictured on the right)
As Rittenhouse was running away, his lawyers point to a single gunshot that rang out across the street. They circled the muzzle flash (above). Rittenhouse, who is not pictured above, was running away to the right of this frame when the shot was fired
The video shows Rittenhouse running into a parking lot, followed by Rosenbaum and journalist Richard McGinniss, who was filming the chase on his cellphone
Rittenhouse, a high school student and lifeguard in nearby Antioch, Illinois, has said that he and his friends were called upon by a business owner in Kenosha to help maintain the peace after several businesses were burned by protesters in preceding nights.
Video from earlier in the evening shows him with a first-aid kit offering medical aid to protesters. He also carries an AR-15-style rifle. The legal age to open carry in Wisconsin is 18.
Videos also show a dispute between Rosenbaum and men guarding a nearby gas station prior to the shooting.
Rittenhouse’s lawyers say that Rosenbaum was enraged that the guards had put out a fire in a rolling dumpster that activists had tried to push toward the gas station, and that he was seen shouting ‘Shoot me n***a’ at a man with a rifle at the gas station, who was dressed similarly to Rittenhouse.
Some time later, Rittenhouse was spotted sprinting with a fire extinguisher to put out another fire, which his lawyers claim that Rosenbaum was involved in igniting.
Rittenhouse’s attorneys say the teenager turned back and pointed his gun at Rosenbaum after that first gunshot rang out from across the street. McGinniss, who was filming the ordeal, later said Rosenbaum lunged at the barrel of Rittenhouse’s gun in the seconds before the teenager fired
The lawyers say Rittenhouse fired four shots at Rosenbaum. The video captures three additional shots of unknown origin immediately after Rittnehouse fired. They point to this grab of Rittenhouse coming back to the scene (left) to check on Rosenbaum as McGinniss gave him aid (right)
His lawyers say this grab shows Rittenhouse attempting to call 911 as McGinniss continues to provide aid to Rosenbaum. They say an ‘angry mob’ were forming nearby as Rittenhouse was on the phone
Rittenhouse could be seen quickly fleeing from the shooting scene on foot as an angry crowd began to form. He was on the phone at the time and could be heard saying: ‘I just shot somebody’
Then, the video shows Rittenhouse fleeing on foot as he is pursued by Rosenbaum. Rittenhouse’s attorneys theorize that Rosembaum may have believed Rittenhouse was the other guard that he’d had an earlier dispute with.
The video shows Rittenhouse running into a parking lot, followed by Rosenbaum and journalist Richard McGinniss, who was filming the chase on his cellphone.
‘Directly in front…
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