Jury acquits Rittenhouse on all charges

A Wisconsin jury on Friday unanimously found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges in his murder trial.

Rittenhouse was found not guilty on five charges after several days of jury deliberation.

The 18-year-old Rittenhouse became visibly emotional when the jurors' acquittal was read, shaking 

Developing ...

Rittenhouse faced murder and other charges in the fatal shooting of two men and the wounding of another during a chaotic night on social justice protests on Aug. 25, 2020.

Prosecutors claimed in closing arguments Monday that Rittenhouse, 17 at the time of the shootings, was a "wannabe soldier" who provoked bloodshed by bringing a semi-automatic rifle to the night of protests and rioting, amid the summer of social justice demonstrations.

Rittenhouse's lawyer said his client acted in self-defense after being ambushed by a "crazy person" who he feared would wrest away his gun and use it to kill him, according to the Associated Press.

The verdict came after two weeks of testimony including the defendant's.

Eighteen jurors hearing the case. The 12 who will decided Rittenhouse’s fate and the six who were designated alternates were determined by a drawing from a raffle drum, the wire service also reports.

Rittenhouse said he went to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, to protect property from rioters.