Let us start from the remedial beginning, for Steve’s educational benefit — as he’s (wholly-unsurprisingly) now become an apologist / racist-co-conspirator — for an… assassin.
Yes, young Rittenhouse may sue me… for calling him that. [He will lose. Truth is an absolute defense here, in the US. Updated: the full first (may be subject to upgraded charges, later) “Life Sentence” (Murder) felony criminal complaint, from Kenosha County DA’s office, here.]
You see, young Rittenhouse committed at least two felonies before he arrived in Kenosha (wholly unmentioned by Hayward’s fevered racist scree) that night: he is under-age, so he may NEVER lawfully open carry, even so much as a handgun (in Illinois) — due to his tender age (but certainly not a semi-automatic 30 round magazine AR-15, as it is not a permitted hunting rifle under Illinois Fish and Game regulations)… in EITHER Illinois, or for that matter, Wisconsin (not as a game hunting rifle). He did just that, with that semi-automatic AR-15, in both of these states on the evening of the 25th.
Next, he crossed state lines, with that semi-automatic weapon he is not allowed to possess, unlawfully driving on an interstate highway (again, under Illinois law). [As of Sunday August 30, 2020, his lawyer — the same guy who just lost the would-be Carter Page libel case against the DNC, in Illinois, BTW — is saying he will assert that Rittenhouse was part of a “well-regulated militia“, as a defense (I’ll bury that claim in a separate post tomorrow). Then he goes on to say the AR-15 he used “never crossed state lines“. I take it he means to refer to the Illinois law that if completely dis-assembled, the parts may be driven across state lines, lawfully. But that still leaves one or two pre-shooting felonies in place, in Wisconsin — and removes his self-defense claim, as he was the aggressor when he fatally shot that first man in the back. End update.]
These two/three felonies (to play the other side of Steve Hayward’s tedious semantic games) prior to any shootings, make charges of felony murder possible, regardless of what happened subsequently on the street, in Kenosha, a few hours later that evening — ALL these other people died, died in the course of Rittenhouse’s ongoing commissions of felonies. See prior paragraph. Steve’s entire defense is now — to coin a phrase — shot. The kid IS NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT. Full stop.
But there is — of course — more:
Rittenhouse shot (according to the DA’s sworn murder complaint, and the time codes on the video on Twitter) his first assassination victim straight through the heart, from behind, from a considerable distance (but his shot actually perforated the lung and liver of the victim — an instantly fatal wound). In sum, Rittenhouse clearly took what he might call (as a boy-gamer) — a “drop/kill-shot“. Into the victim’s back. And he landed it — this little puke. This guy was treating it like a video game. But he instantly killed a man — from a distance — with his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, with his first shot.
After this, whether there were other gunshots is irrelevant. He had no lawful right to be on the street at all (past curfew, and trespassing, AFTER a lawful police order to him personally, to disperse — as a minor), let alone with that AR-15 of which he was not in lawful possession, under both Illinois, and Wisconsin law. [I might primarily argue under Illinois law — but why quibble, here? Steve H. is clearly no criminal law expert, though — that is clear — nor are the NYT reporters he mentions for corroboration, apparently.]
Rittenhouse’s only (minimally-) lawful course, after the very first order to disperse (as a minor in possession of an unlawful firearm, violating a curfew), at that point was to immediately retreat to his vehicle; lock the AR-15 in his trunk — and drive away — before firing any shots. He chose to stay, on private property (not his property) he had already been ordered by police to leave. Once he disobeyed a police order to disperse — he had zero right to be there.
Then he fired his semi-automatic weapon at another human, some distance away (another felony). That man was also fatally wounded. As a trespasser, in the street, at that point, Rittenhouse had no “stand your ground” rights, under Wisconsin law — despite Steve H.’s fevered rantings.
That additional shot ALSO killed an unarmed human. From then on, even if he was firing subsequent shots in some supposed “self-defense” — he was certainly already guilty of felony murder [see DA’s complaint].
Everyone dead — or injured — EVERYONE, even people not shot by his gun… after that, he may properly be charged with, as an “in the course of his multiple felonies” culpable death. Case closed.
So — you racist a$$hole, Steve — please just shut the F#CK up. [The kid is also on video uttering racial epithets, before the shooting started. Nice choice of Trump’s “very fine people” to defend, Steve.] You do not know — in fact, have no idea — what you are talking about. And you insult all the dead victims, the injured — and their families and loved ones with this hateful bullshit.
Just struggling so mightily to make it okay to kill people. Jes#s H. Chr#st. Take a seat, Steve — let the adult lawyers charge this appropriately, now. Just watch.
Out.
