Man wounded in Kenosha shootings thought he was ‘going to die’
A man who survived a triple shooting in Wisconsin last year has told a court he was wounded while trying to disarm the 17-year-old gunman.
Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, was the third person to be shot by Kyle Rittenhouse on 25 August 2020.
The other two – Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26 – both died.
Mr Grosskreutz told the jury in Kenosha he thought he would be killed, too, becoming tearful as he told his story.
Rittenhouse shot him in the arm, “vaporizing” his right bicep, Mr Grosskreutz added.
He has lost some feeling from his bicep to his thumb and has difficulty lifting heavy objects, he said.
Heather Williams, left, a firearms examiner, identifies the rifle Kyle Rittenhouse used
Rittenhouse, now 18, went to Kenosha last year with a rifle and a medical kit to protect property, his defence team has claimed.
Violent protests had broken out following the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer.
Prosecutors contend that Rittenhouse instigated the bloodshed and killed one of the victims with a bullet to the back.
His lawyers, however, claim he acted in self defence and had feared his weapon would be taken from him.
Mr Grosskreutz told the jury he drew his own pistol after the bloodshed started.
“I thought the defendant was an active shooter,” he said.
Asked what was going through his mind as he got close to Rittenhouse, he said: “That I was going to die.”
Mr Grosskreutz talks about the damage done to his arm
Explaining his presence, Mr Grosskreutz said he went to the protest to serve as a volunteer medic, wearing a hat labelled “paramedic” and carrying medical supplies in addition to a loaded pistol.
“I believe in the Second Amendment,” he said. “I’m for people’s right to carry and bear arms, and that night was no different than any other day. It’s keys, phone, wallet, gun.”
While being questioned by the prosecution, Mr Grosskreutz said he had his hands raised as he got close to Rittenhouse.
Prosecutor Thomas Binger wondered why Mr Grosskreutz did not shoot first.
“That’s not the kind of person that I am,” he replied. “That’s not why I was out there. It’s not who I am. And definitely not somebody I would want to become.”
He added that he began to take action after seeing Rittenhouse kill another man just feet away.
Defence attorney Corey Chirafisi asked: “It wasn’t until you pointed your gun at him, advanced on him … that he fired, right?”
“Correct,” Mr Grosskreutz replied.
Kyle Rittenhouse’s lawyers claim he acted in self defence
Mr Grosskreutz denied chasing Rittenhouse and said he was concerned about Rittenhouse’s safety after seeing others chase him and someone try to kick him.
Mr Chirafisi mentioned a lawsuit Mr Grosskreutz has brought against the city of Kenosha, in which he alleges police enabled the violence by allowing an armed militia to have the run of the streets during the demonstration.
“If Mr Rittenhouse is convicted, your chance of getting 10 million bucks is better, right?” Mr Chirafisi said.
Witnesses have testified that the first man shot and killed, Mr Rosenbaum, was “hyperaggressive” and “acting belligerently” and had threatened to kill Rittenhouse at one point.
Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide.
It is thought he may take the stand to explain his actions.
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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