Nathan Layne

KENOSHA (Wis.) – Kyle Rittenhouse shot only one protester. He will testify Monday to the jury. This testimony could be crucial as it will determine whether Rittenhouse justified fear for his own life by opening fire with his gun.

Rittenhouse (18) has been accused in two deaths and in attempting to murder Gaige Grosskreutz (27), during protests for racial justice on August 25, 2020 in Kenosha. This was following the shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man.

Rittenhouse faces life imprisonment if convicted. He has pleaded guilty to the charges and said that he was acting in self-defense. Rittenhouse was told by his lawyer that he would stand for his own defense.

Grosskreutz was a former paramedic and was carrying a kit of medical aid that night. Rittenhouse was carrying a gun when he shot Grosskreutz.

The trial is now in its second week and his testimony Monday may prove to be crucial. Many witnesses testified last week in support of Joseph Rosenbaum’s defense of self-defense. Rosenbaum was the second of his two victims.

The trial represents the most prominent court examination of civilian self-defense rights since George Zimmerman’s fatal shooting of Trayvon Mart, an unarmed Black teenager in 2013, was acquitted.

The Rittenhouse shootings are similar to the case. Many on the right see the teenager as a vigilante killer, while some in conservative circles view him as a reason celebre.

Grosskreutz, according to the prosecutors, is their only opportunity to question the survivor of Rittenhouse’s shooting that seriously injured Grosskreutz’s right arm.

Kimberley Motley (Grosskreutz’s lawyer), stated to Reuters that it was important for the public know Gaige’s story as well as what actually happened on that particular night. Rittenhouse didn’t have the legal right to kill him. Gaige did not threaten him.”

Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards stated that the evidence would prove that Grosskreutz “went for” his client and that they would call an expert to examine video from the incident to establish that Grosskreutz was a threat.

Richards sent an email confirming that “the slowed down footage from our self defence expert will leave no question what his intention was.”

James Kraus, Kenosha County Assistant District attorney, declined to comment.

Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum at the used car dealership parking lot just before midnight. He then fled the scene and a number of protesters started pursuing him, some yelling things like “Get his ass!According to surveillance video and the criminal complaint filed just days later, “,” he said.

Rittenhouse, who saw Anthony Huber (26) pointing a skateboard at Rittenhouse, made a fall to the ground. Grosskreutz stopped approaching Huber, but he froze. The complaint says that he took a few steps back to put his hands in his air and still held his gun.

The complaint states that Grosskreutz moves toward Grosskreutz, who fires 1 shot and aims his gun at Grosskreutz.

Grosskreutz said in interviews with media that he moved to Kenosha because of the Blake shooting. He also wanted to offer medical assistance to protestors who required it. Grosskreutz stated that while he supported the right of bear arms, he was concerned about online calls for an armed militia to patrol the streets.

He said that he had not fired his weapon on the night, as he stated to CNN last year. “I was there for people to not be hurt.”

Grosskreutz filed suit against Kenosha County and several Kenosha law enforcement officers last month. Grosskreutz claimed they created a “roving militia of white nationalists” to stop protestors following the Blake shooting.