The jury found Rittenhouse, 18, not guilty on all charges: two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide for wounding a third man, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety in protests marred by arson, rioting and looting on Aug. 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and fired a bullet that tore a chunk off the arm of Gaige Grosskreutz, 28. Rittenhouse claimed self-defense.

The 18-year-old boy was still a minor when he pulled the trigger during protests opposing racism and police abuse in Kenosha after two law enforcement officers shot African-American Jacob Blake, who was left paralyzed from the waist down.

Rittenhouse testified in his own defense last Wednesday in the trial’s most dramatic moment – a risky decision by his lawyers given his youth and the prospect of tough prosecution cross-examination. Rittenhouse broke down sobbing at one point but emphasized that he fired upon the men only after being attacked.

Relatives of one of those killed by Rittenhouse said in a statement that the verdict sends the unacceptable message that armed civilians can show up in any town, incite violence and then use the danger created to justify shooting people in the street.

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