Rittenhouse was charged with felony murder in connection with the murders of Huber and Rosenbaum and felony attempted murder in connection with Grosskreutz’s injuries. He was also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon under the age of 18, a misdemeanor. He has pleaded not guilty.
A jury of 20 people – 11 women and 9 men – was chosen on Monday. Schroeder said on Monday the 20-person group would be narrowed down to 12 once discussions begin. He went with a larger number of jurors because of the expected length of the trial, which he told jurors would last about two weeks.
Here’s what we know about the two men killed and the sole survivor of the shooting.
Joseph Rosenbaum
During those protests, Rittenhouse clashed with a crowd gathered near a car dealership and Rosenbaum, who did not have a gun, hurled what appeared to be a plastic bag at him and missed, according to reports. The criminal complaint was filed last year. Rosenbaum and Rittenhouse were moving across the parking lot and appeared to be close to each other when suddenly they heard a loud bang and Rosenbaum fell to the ground, the lawsuit said.
A reporter approached Rosenbaum, who was on the ground, and attempted to aid. As Rosenbaum lay on the ground, Rittenhouse called into his cell phone and said, “I just killed someone” as he ran away, the lawsuit alleges.
He was not part of the protesters nor the armed groups also present, the Post reported. He visited his fiancée shortly after being discharged from the army, to whom he had proposed the previous winter in the middle of a crowded sidewalk. She told the Post that’s just who he is: “He’ll make you laugh all of a sudden.”
“He wasn’t down there like a rioter or a looter,” Rosenbaum’s fiancée told the Post about August 25. “Why was he there? I don’t have an answer. I ask myself that question every day.”
Anthony Huber
Huber, who was among the protesters with his girlfriend, was killed when Rittenhouse fled the scene of the Rosenbaum shooting, according to the lawsuit.
“He pushed me away and ran away. I tried to grab him,” Hannah Gittings said. She called what Huber did a “heroic thing.”
Video from the scene shows Rittenhouse carrying an AR-15-style rifle, walking the streets of the city with a group of armed men. Gittings told CNN that her boyfriend targeted an armed person to protect her and others nearby.
Huber appeared to reach for Rittenhouse’s gun with one hand while holding his skateboard in the other, the criminal complaint said. When Huber tried to get the gun, Rittenhouse pointed it at him and fired one shot, according to the complaint. Huber was seen stumbling away and then falling to the ground, the lawsuit said. He died from his gunshot wound.
Last year, Gittings said Huber was “absolutely indescribable” and has always stood by his beliefs and convictions.
“He was an incredibly intelligent person, literally the smartest person I have ever met,” Gittings said. “He knows exactly what’s at stake when he’s chasing someone with a weapon.”
Anand Swaminathan, a lawyer for his family, said Huber was born and raised in Kenosha.
“He loves Kenosha,” Swaminathan said. “In the years leading up to this event, he’s had a good life, he’s fun and he’s happy and he’s trying to do what he can with himself.”
Huber struggled with mental health challenges at a young age, and skateboarding is one of the things that gives him the most joy. He has found a community of people in Kenosha who share the same passion, the lawyer added.
“That’s what brought him so much happiness, gave him so much peace,” Swaminathan said. “He was really fighting to get to a healthy place.”
People talking about Huber talk about “a kid who wants to help people,” the lawyer added.
“His family feels that nature in him is part of why he did the actions he did that night, he wants to help, he wants to stop this person,” he say.
“He was always quick to help friends, family and neighbors in need, and so we were not surprised to learn that Anthony came to the aid of others on August 25,” the statement said. father said. “While we miss him dearly and wish this didn’t happen, we are so proud of him.”
Huber’s father filed a federal lawsuit in August 2021 accusing the Kenosha administration on behalf of armed men who were patrolling the streets and conspiring with them, alleging their actions were “directly caused “Huber’s death.
“The defendants’ open support and coordination with armed individuals in the minutes and hours before the shooting deprived Anthony Huber and other protesters of basic safeguards. usually provided by the police,” the lawsuit states. “It’s a license for armed individuals to wreak havoc and cause injury.”
CNN has reached out to Kenosha police, the city of Kenosha, and county representatives. The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment.
Gaige Grosskreutz
Rittenhouse shot and wounded Grosskreutz, who approached him shortly after Huber was shot, according to the criminal complaint. Grosskreutz crouched to the ground when Huber was shot and took a step back, according to the lawsuit.
He placed his hands in the air and then began moving toward Rittenhouse, who then fired one shot, hitting Grosskreutz in the arm, according to the lawsuit. Grosskreutz was holding a handgun but raised his hand, the lawsuit said.
Grosskreutz fled the scene, screaming for help, according to the complaint.
“I think about the screams, about the gunshots. I think about everything, all the time,” Grosskreutz told CNN’s Sara Sidner in a September 2020 interview. consumes you or you need to become stronger for it.”
Grosskreutz was wearing his “first aid” hat at the time. He said his goal during the protest was to provide medical care to anyone in need. He trained as a paramedic before deciding to attend a liberal arts college in Wisconsin.
“While my job as a paramedic is important to the community, I feel it’s reacting: someone gets shot, someone overdoses,” he told CNN. “I want to improve my understanding of the world and educate myself further and then be proactive. Stop people from getting shot, stop people from overdose.”
Since shooting, he has had to undergo many surgeries and treatments.
“I’m 90% short on biceps,” he said last year. “This was not easy mentally or physically. I was in constant pain, like a excruciating pain that couldn’t go away – both in my arms, in my heart.”
Last month, Grosskreutz also sued the city and county of Kenosha and many of its officers, alleging that “Kenosha law enforcement officers and white nationalist militiamen discussed and coordinated strategy.” led to the shooting. The lawsuit says Grosskreutz had a tourniquet in his medical bag the night he was shot.
“However, Grosskreutz’s life has changed a lot.”
CNN has reached out to the former sheriff, the city of Kenosha and its police department. An attorney representing Kenosha County and county sheriffs said they plan to file a dismissal of the case.
Grosskreutz said that although he was also armed on the night of the protests, he did not fire his weapon.
“I’m there to help people, not hurt people,” he said.
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