Wisconsin state prosecutors filed a motion Friday asking a judge to allow them to inform the jury of a violent incident that occured the month before Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people, killing two, in Kenosha, the Chicago Tribune reports. Prosecutors also want to include information about Rittenhouse’s affiliation with the right-wing extremist group Proud Boys.
On July 1, 2020, Rittenhouse was caught on video striking a girl in the back while he was at the Kenosha waterfront. That incident happened the month before his shooting spree in Kenosha, where he went during the protests after police shot Jacob Blake in the back, paralyzing him.
Rittenhouse left his home in Antioch, Illinois August 25, 2020 and had his mother drive him to Kenosha, where he planned to help armed citizens claiming they were protecting local business. When here, he illegally obtained an assault rifle he had a friend buy for him in Wisconsin through a strawman purchase. Rittenhouse was only 17 years old at the time, and in Wisconsin, a gun buyer must be at least 18.
While he was out on bail–part of which was funded by actor Ricky Schroder and pillow magnate cum election watchdog Mike Lindell–Rittenhouse was photographed in a bar drinking beer at a Wisconsin bar with members of the Proud Boys. Rittenhouse posed for photos in which he made white nationalist handsigns. Rittenhouse’s mother took him to the bar, and while he is not legally allowed to drink by himself in Wisconsin because he is under 21, people between 18 and 21 can drink beer in bars when they are accompanied by a parent.
Rittenhouse’s trial on multiple charges including homicide and attempted homicide is scheduled to begin November 1st.