Accused Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse extradited to Wisconsin

WAUKEGAN, Illinois — An Illinois judge on Friday ordered the extradition of the 17-year-old accused of killing two protesters and injuring another in August during demonstrations after the shooting that paralyzed Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Kyle Rittenhouse was turned over to Wisconsin authorities Friday evening, WTMJ reported.

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In a written order, Lake County Circuit Judge Paul Novak ordered the extradition of Rittenhouse to Wisconsin, where he faces first-degree reckless homicide and first-degree intentional homicide charges in Kenosha County, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Police in Antioch, Illinois, arrested Rittenhouse on Aug. 26 to face charges in the deaths of Anthony Huber, 26, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36. An investigation launched by police found that the gun used in the Aug. 25 shooting was bought, stored and used in Wisconsin. A third victim, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, was wounded.

>> Accused Kenosha gunman Kyle Rittenhouse won’t face charges in Illinois

Rittenhouse had been held in a juvenile detention center in Lake County without bail due to pending charges in Kenosha.

On Friday, Novak said the role of Illinois was limited and said that Rittenhouse’s constitutional and self-defense claims need to be raised in Wisconsin, the Journal Sentinel reported.

During Friday’s hearing, Rittenhouse’s lawyer, John Pierce, described what he called “fatal defects” in the extradition papers and called for his client to remain in Illinois, WTMJ reported.

“This Illinois child must go free,” Pierce told the court.

Lake County Assistant State Attorney Stephen Scheller argued that blocking Rittenhouse’s transfer would undermine the justice system, the television station reported.

“You can imagine the chaos if someone can commit a crime and step over the (state borderline) and get sanctuary,” Scheller told the court.

Protests began in Wisconsin after one Kenosha police officer, identified as Rusten Sheskey, shot Blake, 29, in the back at point-blank range while responding to a report of a domestic incident.

Defense attorneys have argued that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he opened fire during unrest following the shooting of Blake, who was hit seven times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down.

A video of the shooting posted online sparked outrage and ignited the protests.

Pierce also argued that the extradition papers have defects, contending that the criminal complaint was not sworn before a magistrate in Wisconsin.

Cox Media Group