Teen who shot three people during US protest ‘thought he was under attack’
A teenager who shot three people during a protest against racial injustice had thought he was under attack, a trial has heard.
Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, is accused of killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber as well as wounding Gaige Grosskreutz with an assault-style rifle in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on 25 August last year.
A witness at the trial said he had seen Mr Rosenbaum, the first to be shot that night, appear to “lunge” towards Rittenhouse’s rifle in an effort to take it, before Rittenhouse fired.
Richie McGinniss, a video director for conservative website The Daily Caller, said: “(Mr Rosenbaum) was lunging, falling.
“I would use those as synonymous terms in this situation because basically, you know, he threw his momentum towards the weapon.”
Tear gas outside Kenosha County Courthouse on 25 August 2020 – the same day the two deaths happened
He added: “I think it was very clear to me that he was reaching specifically for the weapon.
“It wasn’t clear to me whether the weapon would be grabbed or fired or what exactly was going to happen. But it was clear to me that it was a situation where it was likely that something dangerous was going to happen.”
Rittenhouse, a former police youth cadet, had “kind of dodged around” with his weapon before levelling it and firing, Mr McGinniss added.
Earlier in the day, Detective Martin Howard told the trial that a protester, Joshua Ziminski, had fired the first shot into the air – two-and-a-half seconds before Rittenhouse shot Mr Rosenbaum.
The unrest was sparked by the shooting of Jacob Blake by a white police officer
Rittenhouse’s defence team has said he went to Kenosha with his rifle and medical kit to protect property from what became violent protests sparked by the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer.
While prosecutors have said Rittenhouse was responsible for some of that violence, his lawyers have said he acted in self-defence and had feared his weapon would be taken from him.
They have said he was the victim of a “classic ambush” from Mr Rosenbaum who, according to earlier testimony, came out from behind a car and chased him as Rittenhouse shouted: “Friendly! Friendly! Friendly!”.
Police have said that Mr Rosenbaum had no weapons.
The trial heard that the shooting of Mr Rosenbaum had set in motion the other shootings – protester Mr Huber, 26, who was seen on video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard; and Mr Grosskreutz, 27, who had a gun in his hand as he moved towards Rittenhouse.
Also on Thursday, the judge presiding over the trial dismissed a juror who had made a joke to a court security officer about the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
The juror would not repeat the joke for Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder, who said: “It is clear that the appearance of bias is present and it would seriously undermine the outcome of the case.”
The trial continues.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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