Charges filed against 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha fatal shootings

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Posted: 5:29 p.m. on August 27, 2020

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been formally charged in connection to shootings that killed two and injured another during Kenosha's unrest Tuesday night, Aug. 25. 

Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, faces the following charges: 

  • First degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon
  • First degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon (two counts)
  • First degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon
  • Attempted first degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon
  • Possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 

According to police, the first shooting happened near 63rd and Sheridan around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday night. The man shot and killed at this location was identified as 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum. 

The second victim killed was identified by family as 26-year-old Anthony Huber from Silver Lake. A third victim has been identified as Gaige Grosskreutz, according to a criminal complaint, who was taken to the hospital for serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators used multiple cellphone videos to identify Rittenhouse as the shooter. Authorities later recovered a gun believed to be used by Rittenhouse, identified as a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style .223 rifle. The rifle holds 30 rounds of ammunition. 

Rittenhouse will appear in court in Lake County, Illinois Friday, Aug. 28 at a hearing to decide if he will challenge Kenosha County's attempt to bring him back to Wisconsin to face multiple homicide charges.

Police believe he was part of a group of armed people openly carrying firearms Tuesday to protect property. But the Anti-Defamation League says Rittenhouse did not appear to be a part of any militia group, rather he was very pro-police.

His now-deleted social media included a picture showing him holding a rifle, and another deleted picture showed him in uniform as a member of a northern Illinois police cadet program.

Court records show he is a YMCA lifeguard, and a YMCA Chicago spokesperson says he's been on furlough since March.

As a 17-year-old, Rittenhouse is not legally allowed to openly carry a rifle in Wisconsin.

It's not clear if the gun is his, either. The arrest report did not list a required Illinois license to own a firearm, although the law would allow him to get that license with a parent's consent.

Antioch police did not return our phone call asking for more information.

We left a message for his father, and when we tried to visit his apartment, police told us management did not want media on their property.

If Rittenhouse waives an extradition hearing Friday, Kenosha County could take him back right away. Otherwise, he could delay his return to Wisconsin for a few weeks.

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