As the jury verdict was read in the Kenosha, Wis. courthouse on Friday, acquitting 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse after some 26 hours of deliberations, the teen sobbed and fell into his seat.
Rittenhouse was found “not guilty” of five felony charges: first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Watch the full video of the jury’s verdict below:
Rittenhouse’s mother and family members could be seen crying in the seats behind him.
Rittenhouse family spokesperson David Hancock told Fox News that the family knew the jury’s decision was the right one. “Justice was done for Kyle,” Hancock said.
Outside the courthouse during the verdict, a crowd erupted in cheers and applause in support of Rittenhouse’s acquittal.
Tensions have flared among protesters outside the Kenosha courthouse in recent days, and at least two people were arrested for clashing. MSNBC reporters were banned from the courthouse after one was cited by law enforcement for following a jury bus on Thursday.
Kenosha police have tweeted repeatedly this week that no threats to public safety were identified. Governor Tony Evers mobilized 500 National Guard troops last week to support the police in Kenosha, while repeatedly making calls for peace.
Closing arguments had concluded just before 6 p.m. CST Monday. Throughout the trial, Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger painted then-17-year-old Rittenhouse as a reckless teen who took his gun to Kenosha and provoked rioters there, including the individuals who attacked him. Rittenhouse defense attorney Mark Richards argued that Rittenhouse was a kid trying to help his community when he was attacked and his life threatened, forcing him to defend himself.
Then-17-year-old Rittenhouse was part of a group of volunteers who were asked to protect Kenosha businesses during protests that escalated into looting and rioting in reaction to the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse also offered medical aid to injured protesters and helped clean graffiti from buildings, evidence showed.
During the riots, Rittenhouse fatally shot 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum, who was seen on video chasing Rittenhouse and throwing a bag at him while threatening to kill him. Rittenhouse has maintained that he fired four shots at Rosenbaum after Rosenbaum attempted to grab the barrel of Rittenhouse’s rifle.
Rittenhouse fired one shot that killed 26-year-old Anthony Huber after Huber struck Rittenhouse with a skateboard. He also fired upon Gaige Grosskreutz, who survived with a wound to his arm. Grosskreutz had testified last Monday that Rittenhouse only fired at him when he aimed his handgun at Rittenhouse.
On Wednesday, Rittenhouse had broken down in tears during his trial after taking the witness stand to describe the events of August 25, 2020. Rittenhouse is seeing a therapist for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) brought on by the violent events in Kenosha last year, his attorney said.
