Last August, 17-year-old Kylie Rittenhouse was arrested for fatally shooting two and injuring one of the protesters who were protesting against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The teenage boy has now been released on a $2 million bail, said the Kenosha Country Sheriff’s Department on Friday, NBC reports.
His lawyer, Lin Wood also confirmed his release in a tweet on Friday appreciating the efforts of 50-year-old actor and director, Ricky Schroder and Mike Lindell, CEO of Minnesota pillow manufacturer, My Pillow as well as other members of the public who contributed towards the posting of the bail on Friday.
Rittenhouse was arrested for allegedly shooting three protesters at Kenosha, killing two Anthony M. Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, and injuring one, Gaige Grosskreutz. The three were part of the protesters, demonstrating against the shooting of Blake by an officer of the police department in the county. Rittenhouse had allegedly shot and killed one protester for throwing a plastic bag at him. Then shot the other two as they pursued him after the first shooting.
The teenager told the police that he used his stimulus money to buy the rifle, giving the money to his friend, Dominick Balck to buy the rifle since he was not old enough to purchase a gun himself. According to a statement made by Kenosha County Commissioner Loren Keating earlier in November, Rittenhouse is considered a “flight risk” since he faced the possibility of a life sentence or years of imprisonment if he is found guilty, CNN writes.
Rittenhouse was arrested in Antioch, Illinois where he lives about an hour drive from Kenosha the day after the shooting when he turned himself in. Before his arrest, his friend Balck said he was very scared that he would have to spend the rest of his life in prison for what he called self-defense. Black explained that Rittenhouse had allegedly shot at the men because he feared for his life and had called Black immediately after the shooting.
“I just shot somebody! I just shot somebody,” Black said quoting Rittenhouse’s words during the hurried phone call.
The charges against the teenager are two counts of homicide and one count of attempted homicide. These charges are felonies. He also faces a misdemeanor for the possession of a gun while still a minor, according to court documents. His attorney told reporters that the boy was trying to defend himself when he shot the protesters.
Black also faces two counts of deliberately handing over a dangerous weapon to a minor. His attorney stated during a hearing on Thursday that there was no proof that he had given the weapon to Rittenhouse. Black’s motion to have the charges against him dropped was denied, and he is expected to appear in court on January 12 while Rittenhouse’s next appearance is scheduled for December 3 for a preliminary hearing.
Source: nbcchicago.com
