A teen from Antioch, Illinois, was arrested Wednesday morning in connection to deadly shootings at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday. Antioch police announced that a 17 year old, identified as Kyle Rittenhouse, is being charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
Rittenhouse, a “Blue Lives Matter” police enthusiast and Donald Trump fan, according to his social media accounts, is said to be awaiting extradition from the Lake County Judicial System in Illinois to Wisconsin on Friday. It’s been reported that he and other armed vigilantes traveled to Kenosha to “protect” area businesses and the police.
The shootings took place during another night of demonstrations following the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man who was shot in the back seven times by an officer while his three young sons sat in the car. It was reported on Tuesday that Blake is now partially paralyzed. His father said doctors are unsure if the damage is permanent.
Videos shared on social media show a man, believed to be Rittenhouse, with a gun surrounded by protesters as he runs down the street.
According to witness accounts, Rittenhouse was chased by protesters on the scene after he shot a man in the head. He allegedly then shot two more people. The Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul confirmed Wednesday evening that two people were shot and killed and one person was shot and in critical condition.
One video that’s received a lot of scrutiny on social media and in news reports shows a man, believed to be Rittenhouse, walking down the street after the shootings uncontested by police who are seen nearby. At one point, the man even places his hands in the air as he walks towards the police, and the police just drive on by.
Another video shows police providing water to a group of armed vigilantes and thanking them for their presence.
According to witness reports, bystanders had to point out to police that Rittenhouse, the man with the gun, had just shot people. Rittenhouse eventually went home to Antioch and turned himself in on a Wisconsin fugitive warrant.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency on Tuesday and on Wednesday authorized an additional 500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard to hit the streets after property was set ablaze on Monday and Tuesday.
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I would advise no Black person’s even attempt to be on the street, at night, during a protest, with any that even looks like a firearm. Black people heed this warning ⚠️ don’t think you emulate Mr. Rittenhouse and live to tell the tale.