The teen faces six charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide, according to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.
— Craig Wall ABC 7 (@craigrwall) August 27, 2020
Rittenhouse was armed with an assault-style weapon, which he allegedly used to commit the killings during a protest in Kenosha on Tuesday night. Reports have stated that the teen is part of an armed militia group that attempted to protect Kenosha businesses from violent protests in the wake of the police shooting of 29-year-old Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha. However, authorities have yet to confirm that Rittenhouse is affiliated with any militia groups.
— Friendly Antifa Union Rep (@savantifa) August 26, 2020
— Friendly Antifa Union Rep (@savantifa) August 26, 2020
Rittenhouse was taken into custody on Wednesday in Illinois and is being held at a juvenile detention facility in Vernon Hills. Authorities plan to charge him as an adult, according to ABC7.
The Washington Post reports that the 17-year-old idolized the police, shadowed local law enforcement as a cadet and flooded his social media accounts with "Blue Lives Matter" posts. Videos shared online also appear to show Rittenhouse openly collaborating with police, who thank him and offer him water, before the killings took place.
— Friendly Antifa Union Rep (@savantifa) August 26, 2020
Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night defended Rittenhouse, prompting "Fire Tucker Carlson Now" to trend on Twitter Wednesday and Thursday.
"Are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder?" Carlson said during his show, CBS News reported. "How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?"
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) August 27, 2020
Protests have erupted in Kenosha following the police shooting of Blake on August 23.
Blake was shot four times in the back by Officer Rusten Sheskey. The altercation took place after officers were dispatched to a residence in Kenosha on Sunday after a female caller said that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency on Tuesday and ordered additional Wisconsin National Guard troops to support local law enforcement.
