Rittenhouse has preliminary hearing on Wisconsin charges

KENOSHA, Wis. — A 17-year-old from Illinois accused of killing two men during an August protest in Wisconsin faces a preliminary hearing in the case.

Hearings such as the one Thursday in Kenosha are generally used to determine whether enough evidence exists to proceed to a trial.

Kyle Rittenhouse is charged with homicide and attempted homicide in the shootings. They came during a night of unrest in Kenosha following the police shooting two days earlier of Jacob Blake, a Black man.

Rittenhouse is free on $2 million bond largely provided by supporters who see him as a patriot who was trying to protect other people’s property. Others view him as a trigger-happy youth whose presence with a rifle incited protesters.

Rittenhouse’s attorney filed a motion Tuesday in an attempt to dismiss two of the teen’s charges.

Court records indicate they wish to dismiss the counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 and first-degree recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon.

Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors in Wisconsin also charged a 19-year-old man, Dominick Black, for allegedly supplying the gun used in the shooting.

wisc-ap-2019