It’s one of those questions that seems like it should have a simple, one-sentence answer. But honestly, if you spent any time watching the news or scrolling through social media back in 2020 or during the 2021 trial, you know nothing about this case was simple. People have been arguing about the numbers, the names, and the "why" for years now.
So, let's get right to the point. Kyle Rittenhouse killed two people. He also shot and wounded a third person who survived. All of this went down in a matter of minutes on the night of August 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was chaotic. There were fires, sirens, and a lot of people with guns. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, was one of them.
The Names Most People Forget
When we talk about how many people did Kyle Rittenhouse kill, the names often get lost in the political shouting matches. But these were real people.
The first person Rittenhouse shot and killed was Joseph Rosenbaum. He was 36 years old. According to the testimony and drone footage shown during the trial, Rosenbaum had chased Rittenhouse into a used car lot. He threw a plastic bag at him—which turned out to just have some hospital socks and toiletries inside—and tried to grab the barrel of Rittenhouse’s rifle. That’s when Rittenhouse fired four times. Rosenbaum died right there.
The second person killed was Anthony Huber. He was 26. This happened just a few moments later as Rittenhouse was running away from the first shooting toward a line of police vehicles. Huber was seen on video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard and trying to pull the rifle away. Rittenhouse fired a single shot into Huber’s chest. It was fatal.
🔗 Read more: The Faces Leopard Eating Meme: Why People Still Love Watching Regret in Real Time
Then there’s the survivor: Gaige Grosskreutz. He was 26 at the time and was working as a volunteer medic. He approached Rittenhouse with a handgun in his hand. Rittenhouse shot him once in the arm, specifically the bicep. Grosskreutz survived, but the injury was pretty severe.
Why the Trial Changed Everything
You might remember the trial was a total media circus. Rittenhouse was charged with five felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide. Basically, the prosecutors were trying to say he was a "wannabe soldier" who went looking for trouble. They argued he provoked the whole thing.
But the defense had a different story. They focused on "reasonableness."
Under Wisconsin law, you can use deadly force if you reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. The jury sat through 27 hours of deliberations. They watched the videos over and over. In the end, they found him not guilty on all counts. They basically decided that, in those specific moments, Rittenhouse had a reason to be afraid for his life.
💡 You might also like: Whos Winning The Election Rn Polls: The January 2026 Reality Check
It’s worth noting that a lot of what people "knew" about the case early on turned out to be wrong. For a long time, there was a rumor that the people he shot were Black. They weren't. Rittenhouse and all three men he shot were white. There was also a lot of back-and-forth about whether the gun was legal. While he was a minor, the judge actually dismissed the weapon possession charge because of how the Wisconsin law was written regarding the length of the rifle's barrel.
What’s Happened Since?
Even though he was acquitted in criminal court, the legal battles didn't just vanish. That’s not how the American legal system works.
Gaige Grosskreutz and the estate of Anthony Huber ended up filing civil lawsuits. Civil suits are different from criminal trials. You don't go to jail, but you can be forced to pay a lot of money in damages. These lawsuits targeted not just Rittenhouse, but also local law enforcement, claiming they basically enabled the violence by letting armed civilians roam the streets during the unrest.
Rittenhouse has stayed in the public eye, too. He’s become a bit of a hero in some conservative circles and a villain in liberal ones. He’s written a book, done the podcast circuit, and frequently posts on social media about gun rights.
📖 Related: Who Has Trump Pardoned So Far: What Really Happened with the 47th President's List
The Reality of the Kenosha Shooting
Looking back, the Kenosha shootings became a mirror for whatever people already believed about guns, race, and self-defense in America. But if you strip away the politics, you’re left with a very specific set of facts that the jury had to weigh:
- Shooting 1: Joseph Rosenbaum (Deceased). Chased Rittenhouse, lunged for the gun.
- Shooting 2: Anthony Huber (Deceased). Hit Rittenhouse with a skateboard, tried to take the gun.
- Shooting 3: Gaige Grosskreutz (Injured). Approached with a pistol, shot in the arm.
If you are following the ongoing civil litigation or just trying to understand the legal precedent this case set, it's helpful to look at the actual court transcripts rather than just news snippets. The "reasonableness" standard used in this case is now a major talking point in self-defense law across the country.
To stay informed on how these civil cases turn out—which could still take years to fully resolve—you can track the filings in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Monitoring the specific language used in the Huber family’s wrongful death suit will give you the best insight into how the victims' families are still seeking accountability outside of the criminal verdict.