Kyle Rittenhouse Criminal Complaint
Kyle Rittenhouse Criminal Complaint
Kyle Rittenhouse Criminal Complaint
FILED
08-27-2020
Clerk of Circuit Court
Kenosha County
STATEOF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT KENOSHACOUNTY
2020CF000983
STATE OF Wisconsin
Honorable Bruce E.
CRIMINALCOMPLAINT Schroeder
Plaintiff,
Branch 3
DA Case #
The above-named defendant on or about Tuesday , August 25 , 2020 , in the City of Kenosha ,
Kenosha County, Wisconsin , did recklessly cause the death of Joseph D. Rosenbaum, under
circumstances which show utter disregard for human life, contrary to sec 940.02 ( 1) , 939.50( 3 ) ( b) ,
.
939.63( 1) ( b ) Wis . Stats ., a Class B Felony , and upon conviction may be sentenced to a term of
imprisonment not to exceed sixty (60 ) years .
And further, invoking the provisions of sec . 939.63( 1)( b ) Wis. Stats., because the defendant
committed this offense while using a dangerous weapon, the maximum term of imprisonment for
the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years .
The above-named defendant on or about Tuesday , August 25 , 2020 , in the City of Kenosha ,
Kenosha County , Wisconsin , did recklessly endanger the safety of Richard McGinnis , under
circumstances which show utter disregard for human life, contrary to sec 941.30 ( 1) , 939.50 ( 3 ) (f ),
.
939.63( 1) ( b ) Wis . Stats ., a Class F Felony , and upon conviction may be fined not more than
Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ( $25,000) or imprisoned not more than twelve ( 12) years and six
,
(6 ) months , or both.
And further, invoking the provisions of sec . 939.63( 1)(b ) Wis . Stats. , because the defendant
committed this offense while using a dangerous weapon, the maximum term of imprisonment for
the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years.
The above-named defendant on or about Tuesday, August 25, 2020, in the City of Kenosha,
Kenosha County, Wisconsin, did cause the death of Anthony M. Huber, with intent to kill that
person, contrary to sec. 940.01( 1 )(a ), 939.50(3 )(a ) , 939.63( 1) b ) Wis. Stats., a Class A Felony, and
upon conviction shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life.
And further, invoking the provisions of sec. 939.63( 1)( b ) Wis. Stats., because the defendant
committed this offense while using a dangerous weapon, the maximumterm of imprisonmentfor
the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years.
The above -named defendant on or about Tuesday , August 25 , 2020 , in the City of Kenosha ,
Kenosha County, Wisconsin, attempted to cause the death of Gaige P. Grosskreutz with intent to
,
kill that person, contrary to sec. 940.01( 1)(a ) , 939.50 (3 ) (a ) 939.32 , 939.63 ( 1 ) b ) Wis . Stats ., a
,
Class B Felony, and upon conviction may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not to exceed
sixty (60 ) years .
And further, invoking the provisions of sec . 939.63( 1)( b ) Wis. Stats., because the defendant
committed this offense while using a dangerous weapon, the maximum term of imprisonment for
the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years .
The above-named defendant on or about Tuesday , August 25 , 2020 , in the City of Kenosha ,
Kenosha County , Wisconsin , did recklessly endanger the safety of an unknown male, under
circumstances which show utter disregard for human life, contrary to sec 941.30 ( 1) , 939.50 (3 )(f ) ,
.
939.63 ( 1) (b ) Wis . ats ., a Class F Felony , and upon conviction may be fined not more than
Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ( $25,000) , or imprisoned not more than twelve ( 12) years and six
(6 ) months , or both.
And further, invoking the provisions of sec. 939.63( 1)( b ) Wis. Stats., because the defendant
committed this offense while using a dangerous weapon, the maximumterm of imprisonmentfor
the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years.
The above-named defendant on or about Tuesday, August 25 , 2020, in the City of Kenosha,
Kenosha County, Wisconsin, being a person under 18 years of age, did go armed with a
dangerous weapon, contrary to sec. 948.60 (2 ) (a ), 939.51 ( 3) (a ) Wis . Stats., a Class A
Misdemeanor, and upon conviction may be fined not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($ 10,000) ,
or imprisoned not more than nine ( 9 ) months, or both
.
PROBABLECAUSE:
Your complainant spoke with Sgt. Melichar, Detective Howard , Detective Cepress, and Detective
Antaramian of the Kenosha Police Department who provided the following information : On August
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25 , 2020 an 8:00 pm curfew had been imposed east of in Kenosha County due to civilunrest.
On August 25th at approximately 11:45 pm a shooting occurred at Car Source which is located at
the northwest corner of 63rd St. and Sheridan Road in the City and County of Kenosha, State of
Wisconsin. The man who was shot at this location was identified as Joseph Rosenbaum.
Rosenbaum was transported to a local hospital where a doctor declared him to be deceased on
August 26, 2020 at 12:47 am.
In the course of investigating this incident, law enforcement reviewed and shared with your
complainant multiple videos that appeared to be recorded on cell phones . In the first video, a male
who was later identified to be Kyle H. Rittenhouse , DOB: 01/03/03 ( hereinafter “ the defendant ), is
running southwest across the eastern portion of the Car Source parking lot. The defendant is a
resident of Antioch , IL. The defendant can clearly be seen holding a long gun , which was later
recovered by law enforcement and identified as a Smith & Wesson AR -15 style .223 rifle. The
recovered magazine for this rifle holds 30 rounds of ammunition . Following the defendant is
Rosenbaum and trailing behind the defendant and Rosenbaum is a male who was later identified
as Richard McGinnis, a reporter.
The video shows that as they cross the parking lot , Rosenbaum appears to throw an object at the
defendant. The object does not hit the defendant and a second video shows , based on where the
object landed, that it was a plastic bag. Rosenbaum appears to be unarmed for the duration of this
video. A review of the second video shows that the defendant and Rosenbaum continue to move
across the parking lot and approach the front of a black car parked in the lot . A loud bang is heard
on the video , then a male shouts , “ Fuck you ! , then Rosenbaum appears to continue to approach
the defendant and gets in near proximity to the defendant when 4 more loud bangs are heard.
Rosenbaum then falls to the ground.
The defendant then circles behind the black car and approaches Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum
remains on the ground. McGinnis also approaches, removes his shirt, and attempts to render aid
to Rosenbaum. The defendant appears to get on his cell phone and place a call . Another male
approaches, and the defendant turns and begins to run away from the scene . As the defendant is
running away , he can be heard saying on the phone , “ I just killed somebody .
Detective Cepress interviewed McGinnis and indicates the following: Before the shooting ,
McGinnis was interviewing the defendant. The defendant told McGinnis that he was a trained
medic . McGinnis stated that he ( McGinnis) has handled many ARs and that the defendant was not
handling the weapon very well . McGinnis said that as they were walking south another armed male
who appeared to be in his 30s joined them and said he was there to protect the defendant .
McGinnis stated that before the defendant reached the parking lot and ran across it, the defendant
had moved from the middle of Sheridan Road to the sidewalk and that is when McGinnis saw a
male ( Rosenbaum ) initially try to engage the defendant. McGinnis stated that as the defendant
was walking Rosenbaum was trying to get closer to the defendant. When Rosenbaum advanced ,
the defendant did a “juke move and started running. McGinnis stated that there were other people
that were moving very quickly . McGinnis stated that they were moving towards the defendant.
McGinnis said that according to what he saw the defendant was trying to evade these individuals .
McGinnis described the point where the defendant had reached the car. McGinnis described that
the defendant had the gun in a low ready position. Meaning that he had the gun raised but pointed
downward. The butt of the gun would have been at an angle downwards from the shoulder.
McGinnis stated that the defendant brought the gun up. McGinnis stated that he stepped back and
Case 2020CF000983 Document 2 Filed 08-27-2020 Page 4 of 5
he thinks the defendant fired 3 rounds in rapid succession . McGinnis said when the first round
went off, he thought it hit the pavement. McGinnis felt something on his leg and his first thought
was wondering whether he had gotten shot. McGinnis was behind and slightly to the right of
Rosenbaum, in the line of fire, when the defendant shot .
McGinnis stated that the first round went into the ground and when the second shot went off, the
defendant actually had the gun aimed at Rosenbaum. McGinnis stated he did not hear the two
exchange any words. McGinnis said that the unarmed guy (Rosenbaum) was trying to get the
defendant's gun. McGinnis demonstrated by extending both of his hands in a quick grabbing
motion and did that as a visual on how Rosenbaum tried to reach for the defendant's gun.
Detective Cepress indicates that he asked McGinnis if Rosenbaum had his hands on the gun when
the defendant shot. McGinnis said that he definitely made a motion that he was trying to grab the
barrel of the gun. McGinnis stated that the defendant pulled it away and then raised it . McGinnis
stated that right as they came together, the defendant fired. McGinnis said that when Rosenbaum
was shot, he had leaned in (towards the defendant) .
McGinnis stated that after the defendant shot he ran back towards the hospital towards the middle
of the road. McGinnis stayed and turned his attention to Rosenbaum . McGinnis stated that he then
heard other shots really soon after .
The third video that your complainant reviewed shows the defendant running northbound on
Sheridan Road after he had shot Rosenbaum. The street and the sidewalk are full of people . A
group of several people begin running northbound on Sheridan Road behind the defendant. A
person can be heard yelling what sounds like, Beat him up ! person can be heard yelling
what sounds like, Hey, he shot him !” Your complainant reviewed a fourth video that showed a
different angle of the defendant running northbound. In this video a person can be heard yelling ,
Get him! Get that dude ! Then a male in a light-colored top runs towards the defendant and
appears to swing at the defendant his right arm . This swing makes contact with the
defendant, knocking his hat off. The defendant continues to run northbound . On the video a male
can be heard saying something to the effect of , he do ? " Another male can be heard
responding something to the effect of, “ Just shot someone .” Then a male can be heard yelling ,
“ Get his ass! The defendant then trips and falls to the ground .
As the defendant is on the ground , an unidentified male wearing a dark -colored top and light
colored pants jumps at and over the defendant. Based on the sounds of gunshots on the video
and the positioning of the defendant's gun , it appears that he fires two shots in quick succession at
this person . It appears that that person was not hit as he then runs away from the defendant. A
second person who was later identified as Anthony Huber approaches the defendant who is still on
the ground, on his back. Huber has a skateboard in his right hand When Huber reaches the
.
defendant it appears that he is reaching for the defendant's gun with his left hand as the
skateboard makes contact with the defendant's left shoulder Huber appears to be trying to pull
.
the gun away from the defendant . The defendant rolls towards his left side and as Huber appears
to be trying to grab the gun the gun is pointed at Huber's body. The defendant then fires one
round which can be heard on the video . Huber staggers away , taking several steps , then
collapses to the ground . Huber subsequently died from this gunshot wound .
After shooting Huber, the defendant moves to a seated position and points his gun at a third male,
later identified as Gaige Grosskreutz, who had begun to approach the defendant. When the
defendant shot Huber, Grosskreutz freezes and ducks and takes a step back. Grosskreutz puts
Case 2020CF000983 Document 2 Filed 08-27-2020 Page 5 of 5
his hands in the air. Grosskreutz then moves towards the defendant who aims his gun at
Grosskreutz and shoots him, firing 1 shot . Grosskreutz was shot in the right arm Grosskreutz
.
appears to be holding a handgun in his right hand when he was shot. Grosskreutz then runs
southbound away from the defendant screaming for a medic and the defendant gets up and starts
walking northbound. The defendant turns around facing southbound while walking backwards
northbound with his firearm in a ready position, pointed towards the people in the roadway.
Dr. Kelley of the Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy on Joseph
Rosenbaum. Dr. Kelley indicated that Rosenbaum had a gunshot wound to the right groin which
fractured his pelvis , a gunshot wound to the back which perforated his right lung and liver, a
gunshot wound to the left hand , a superficial gunshot wound to his lateral left thigh , and a graze
gunshot wound to the right side of his forehead .
Dr. Kelley also conducted an autopsy on Anthony Huber. Dr. Kelley indicated that Huber had a
gunshot wound to his chest that perforated his heart, aorta, pulmonaryartery, and right lung.
Detective Antaramian spoke with Dominic Black on August 26 , 2020. Dominic stated that he
received a phone call from his friend Kyle Rittenhouse the defendant, at 11:46 pm in which the
,
defendant stated that he shot someone . Detective Antaramian saw the defendant in person at the
Antioch , IL Police Department and identified the defendant as the shooter in the various videos .
Your complainantis an attorney with the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office, who bases her
knowledgeof this complaint on:
;
Statements by citizen informant(s ) Richard McGinnis and Dominic Black ; who are
eyewitnesses to the facts they relate;
Statements by the defendant, which were made contrary to his penal interests;
The official records of: The Circuit Court for Kenosha County; The Department of
Transportation ; The Triple Teletype ; The Wisconsin Circuit Court Automated Program,
which records are maintained in the normal course of business duties .