Kyle Rittenhouse, teen accused of killing 2 in Kenosha, fires attorney who helped raise his bail

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An 18-year-old from Illinois who's accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a police brutality protest in Wisconsin last summer fired a California attorney who had been soliciting money for his case.

Los Angeles attorney John Pierce had been at the forefront of Kyle Rittenhouse's defense.

He helped raise money from conservatives to post Rittenhouse's $2 million bail in November.

He also hired attorney Mark Richards to handle proceedings in Wisconsin.

In a tweet, Pierce said, "John Pierce freed Kyle. John Pierce fought with every fiber of his being for Kyle. John Pierce wants nothing but Kyle to be acquitted and live a healthy, happy life. John Pierce is ferociously loyal to all of his clients, including his former clients. Mission accomplished."

CBS 58 reached out to Pierce for an interview, but he did not respond. 

Los Angeles attorney Robert Barnes tweeted Thursday he had also now joined the Rittenhouse legal team. He tweeted, "Kid's innocent, and everybody knows it."

CBS 58 reached out to Barnes for an interview, but his office says he won't be speaking to the press next week. 

This comes as the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office is calling for Kyle Rittenhouse's bond to be increased. Court documents state he violated conditions of his bond by not updating his current address with the court. Rittenhouse's attorney says he's been living at a safehouse and they didn't want his address public because of threats. 

Rittenhouse is accused of shooting three people in Kenosha in August as hundreds were protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man.

Rittenhouse has argued he was acting in self-defense.