Judge Rules Men Shot by Kyle Rittenhouse Can’t Be Called ‘Victims’ During Upcoming Trial

A judge ruled Monday that prosecutors in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three men during a protest last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin, may not refer to the individuals as “victims.”

On the flip side, the Washington Post reports that the two people Rittenhouse fatally shot, Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and the one he wounded, Gaige Grosskreutz, could potentially be referred to as “rioters,” “looters,” and “arsonists” by the defense.

“If more than one of them were engaged in arson, rioting, looting, I’m not going to tell the defense you can’t call them that,” Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder said.

Schroeder added, “The word victim is a loaded, loaded word.”

Rittenhouse, 18, of Antioch, Illinois, will go on trial next week. Rittenhouse is charged with intentional, reckless and attempted homicide, as well as reckless endangerment, curfew violation, and possession of a firearm as a minor (he was 17 at the time of the shootings).

Earlier this month, Grosskreutz filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Kenosha, the former police chief, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, and others. 

Grosskreutz’s lawsuit alleges law enforcement conspired to enable the violence by giving an armed militia free reign during the Jacob Blake protests. The suit claims Kenosha police and sheriff’s deputies “discussed and coordinated strategy” with a “band of white nationalist vigilantes,” in an effort to maintain order the night of the protests.