Kyle Rittenhouse

Kyle Howard Rittenhouse (born January 3, 2003) is an American man who gained national attention at age 17 for shooting three men in Kenosha, Wisconsin, two fatally, amid protests and riots in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in 2020.

After joining a group of armed individuals who said they were protecting businesses against rioting, a series of confrontations occurred, during which Rittenhouse fatally shot two men who attempted to grab his gun and wounded another who pointed a handgun at him. He was charged with multiple counts, including homicide, by Kenosha County prosectors, but was acquitted in November 2021 after a jury found he acted in self-defense. Two civil lawsuits against him were pending as of February 2023.

Rittenhouse's prosecution attracted widespread media coverage. Following his acquittal, he attended several events hosted by conservative organizations and individuals, including a meeting with President Donald Trump, interviews with political commentator Tucker Carlson, and guest appearances at several Turning Point USA productions. His image was widely circulated and used in political messaging by both supporters and critics, becoming an internet meme and appearing on commercial products. Several proposed laws were named after him, he was offered several internships by Republican politicians, and he appeared in a video game.

Since his trial, Rittenhouse has started a gun rights YouTube channel and raised money for unspecified defamation lawsuits against media companies.