A 19-year-old friend of Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse has been charged in state court with two felony counts of intentionally selling a dangerous weapon to a person under the age of 18, resulting in the death of another, NPR reports.
Dominick David Black bought a Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle in Wisconsin with money the 17-year-old Rittenhouse gave him to specifically purchase the weapon. Black falsified information on the purchasing paperwork, including stating that he was buying the weapon for himself. The paperwork is designed to prevent strawman purchases in which individuals buy guns for people who cannot legally buy them themselves. It is illegal in Wisconsin for a minor to buy a gun.
Rittenhouse used the gun to shoot and kill Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, during the unrest in Kenosha after a police officer shot an unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, in the back at least six times. Rittenhouse also shot and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz.
Rittenhouse, a white teenager from Illinois, was one of a number of armed people who claimed that they came to Kenosha August 25th to protect businesses during unrest as people protested the police shooting. The armed men were welcomed by police. Black gave him the gun after he crossed state lines.
After he shot multiple people, Rittenhouse approached police with his arms raised. Multiple people shouted to police that he had just shot people, but police drove by him. He was arrested at his home in Illinois two days later.
Black’s charges are considered Class H felonies, punishable by fines of up to $10,000 and up to six years in prison. Black’s bail was set at $2,500.