MADISON, Wis. — An Illinois teenager, charged with killing two people during protests in Kenosha this summer, has entered a not guilty plea.
Kyle Rittenhouse, now 18, appeared in Kenosha County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon, hours before the city prepares for a charging decision in the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 23.
The shooting was captured on video by a bystander and caused weeks of unrest in Kenosha and came at the end of a summer full of nationwide protests against police brutality.
Prosecutors said Rittenhouse was involved in a deadly confrontation with several protesters in Kenosha. He is accused of shooting and killing Anthony M. Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum. Another man, Gaige Grosskreutz, was also injured in the shooting.
Rittenhouse faces two felony charges of homicide in the death of Rosenbaum and Huber, and a felony attempted homicide charge in the case of Grosskreutz.
He is also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18, a misdemeanor, according to court records.
Rittenhouse was arrested at his home in Antioch, Illinois in September. The following month, an Illinois judge approved his extradition back to Kenosha County.
He was released from custody in November after posting $2 million in bail, according to the county’s sheriff’s department.
An attorney for Rittenhouse has claimed that there is evidence that the teen acted in self-defense.
Rittenhouse is scheduled to return to court for another hearing on March 10.
Recently, claims were filed on behalf of two of the men shot by Rittenhouse alleging the city of Kenosha and Kenosha County were negligent in their response to the unrest,
Grosskreutz and the parents of Huber each filed $10 million claim notices, which are usually precursors to lawsuits.
Tuesday is also the day the Kenosha County District Attorney is expected to announce a charging decision in the police shooting of Blake.
The Kenosha Police Department announced it is planning on taking precautionary measures ahead of Tuesday’s decision. Barricades were placed downtown.
The Kenosha Common Council also approved a resolution on Monday night declaring an emergency in the city, which grants Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian emergency authority upon the charging decision announcement.
Gov. Tony Evers has also mobilized the Wisconsin National Guard ahead of the decision.
News 3 Now has a crew in Kenosha and will update this article once a decision is announced.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
