Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old at the time, shot three men, killing two, during the Kenosha, Wisconsin unrest in August 2020. He was acquitted of all charges in November 2021 after claiming self-defense. The case sparked national debate about gun rights, self-defense laws, and the role of armed civilians in public unrest.
February 2000: Marriage of Rittenhouse's Parents
Kyle Rittenhouse's parents, Michael and Wendy Rittenhouse, were married in Lake County, Illinois, in February 2000.
January 3, 2003: Birth of Kyle Rittenhouse
Kyle Howard Rittenhouse was born on January 3, 2003, in Antioch, Illinois.
2014: Separation of Rittenhouse's Parents
Kyle Rittenhouse's parents separated in 2014.
2016: Tucker Carlson Tonight Premiere
The show "Tucker Carlson Tonight" premiered in 2016.
2017: Rittenhouse Attends Lakes Community High School
Kyle Rittenhouse attended Lakes Community High School for one semester in the 2017-2018 academic year.
December 2018: Rittenhouse Supports Humanizing the Badge
In December 2018, Kyle Rittenhouse started a Facebook fundraiser for Humanizing the Badge, a nonprofit organization.
2018: Rittenhouse Drops Out of High School
Rittenhouse dropped out of Lakes Community High School in 2018 after transitioning to online school.
January 2019: Rittenhouse's Situation Compared to Nicholas Sandmann
Kyle Rittenhouse's experience was compared to that of Nicholas Sandmann, a student involved in a viral incident at the Lincoln Memorial in January 2019.
January 30, 2020: Rittenhouse Attends Trump Rally and Attempts to Join Marines
On January 30, 2020, Rittenhouse attended a Trump rally in Des Moines, Iowa. He also attempted to join the US Marine Corps that same month but was disqualified.
March 2020: Rittenhouse Furloughed from Lifeguard Job
Rittenhouse was furloughed from his part-time lifeguard job at the YMCA in Lindenhurst in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 2020: Kyle Rittenhouse Shoots Three Men in Kenosha
In August 2020, 17-year-old Rittenhouse traveled from Antioch, Illinois to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to help protect local businesses during protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake. On August 25, 2020, armed with an AR-15 style rifle, Rittenhouse shot three men during the civil unrest in Kenosha.
August 25, 2020: Rittenhouse Involved in Kenosha Unrest
On August 25, 2020, Rittenhouse was involved in the civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he shot three men.
2020: Rittenhouse Expresses Support for Law Enforcement and Trump
In 2020, Rittenhouse used his social media to express support for law enforcement, using phrases like "BLUE LIVES MATTER" and "Trump 2020."
2020: Rittenhouse's Image Used for Products and Sales
In 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse's image was used for various products and sales, including clothing and a video game. YouTube faced criticism for not adequately moderating content related to Rittenhouse that glorified violence.
2020: Biden Campaign Video Uses Rittenhouse's Image
During his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden used images of Kyle Rittenhouse in a campaign video that seemingly linked him to white supremacists. Rittenhouse later claimed this was "actual malice" and defamatory.
August 2021: Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Kenosha Law Enforcement
In August 2021, the family of one of the men fatally shot by Rittenhouse filed a federal lawsuit against the police and county sheriff's departments in Kenosha.
October 2021: Gaige Grosskreutz Files Lawsuit
Gaige Grosskreutz, the surviving man shot by Rittenhouse, filed a lawsuit in federal court in October 2021.
October 2021: Rittenhouse enrolls at Arizona State University
In October 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse started taking online classes as a non-degree seeking student at Arizona State University (ASU) with plans to transition to in-person classes. However, a protest rally called 'Killer off campus' was held by multiple student groups opposing his enrollment. By the next month, he had withdrawn from ASU.
November 2021: Rittenhouse Acquitted at Trial
In November 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted at his trial in Kenosha. He testified that he had acted in self-defense.
November 2021: "Kyle's Law" Proposed in Oklahoma
In November 2021, Oklahoma's Senate introduced "Kyle's Law," which aimed to reimburse defendants found not guilty of murder due to justifiable homicide.
November 2021: Congressional Gold Medal Act Proposed for Rittenhouse
In November 2021, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to award Kyle Rittenhouse the Congressional Gold Medal. The bill faced criticism and lacked co-sponsors.
November 17, 2021: Rittenhouse Offered Internships by Republican Lawmakers
On November 17, 2021, before the jury's decision in Rittenhouse's trial, multiple Republican lawmakers offered him internships, sparking controversy.
November 22, 2021: Rittenhouse and Publicist Photo Goes Viral
A photo of Kyle Rittenhouse with his publicist, Jillian Anderson, a former contestant on "The Bachelor", was released on November 22, 2021, and quickly went viral on social media.
December 2021: Rittenhouse Appears at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest
Kyle Rittenhouse participated in a panel called "Kenosha on Camera" at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in December 2021. He received a standing ovation from the crowd.
January 2022: Rittenhouse Added as Defendant in Federal Lawsuit
In January 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse was added as a named defendant in the federal lawsuit filed by the family of one of the men he fatally shot.
January 2022: "Kyle's Law" and Proclamation Proposed in Tennessee
In January 2022, Tennessee saw proposals for "Kyle's Law," similar to Oklahoma's, and a proclamation honoring Kyle Rittenhouse, generating debate.
January 2022: Rittenhouse Considers Book Deal
In January 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse was considering writing a book about his life, as stated by his spokesperson.
February 2022: "Kyle's Law" Passes Out of Committee in Oklahoma
A modified version of "Kyle's Law" in Oklahoma was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2022.
February 2022: Rittenhouse Launches Media Accountability Project
Kyle Rittenhouse announced the Media Accountability Project (TMAP) in February 2022, aiming to address what he perceived as unfair media coverage.
March 2022: Video Game Featuring Rittenhouse Released
A video game called "Acquitted," featuring Kyle Rittenhouse shooting zombies, was launched in March 2022 by Nordic Empire Games. The game's release raised questions about the use of Rittenhouse's image.
March 2022: Rittenhouse Shares Meme Protesting Gas Prices
In March 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse used a meme of himself crying on the witness stand to protest rising gas prices, blaming the increase on President Joe Biden.
June 2022: Rittenhouse's college plans in Texas
In June 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse announced on The Charlie Kirk Show that he would be attending Texas A&M University, which the university later denied. He then posted on Twitter that he would be attending Blinn College, a junior college he referred to as a 'feeder school' for Texas A&M. A spokesperson from Blinn College confirmed he had applied but had not enrolled for any term.
June 23, 2022: Rittenhouse Announces Video Game to Fund Defamation Suits
On June 23, 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse announced a video game, "Kyle Rittenhouse's Turkey Shoot," aimed at funding his defamation lawsuits. The game depicts Rittenhouse shooting turkeys representing the media.
October 16, 2022: Rittenhouse launches YouTube channel
On October 16, 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse launched a YouTube channel focusing on guns and the Second Amendment. His first video featured him firing a handgun and an automatic rifle, with YouTube gun advocate Brandon Herrera as a guest. The video has since been deleted, and the channel appears to have become dormant.
November 2022: Rittenhouse Meets with Republican House Members
In November 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse met with members of the Second Amendment Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, highlighting his role as a gun rights advocate.
2022: Rittenhouse Appears at Turning Point Young Women's Leadership Summit
Kyle Rittenhouse was a speaker at a Turning Point Young Women's Leadership Summit in 2022.
2022: Rittenhouse moves to Texas
In 2022, following his acquittal of the Kenosha shootings, Kyle Rittenhouse relocated to Texas. This move marked a significant change in his life post-trial.
2022: Rittenhouse Launches Fundraising Efforts and Video Game
In 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse initiated a fundraising campaign to sue various media outlets for defamation. He also announced the release of a video game titled "Kyle Rittenhouse's Turkey Shoot" to raise funds for his legal defense.
2022: False Rumor of Rittenhouse Lawsuit Against Whoopi Goldberg
A false rumor circulated online in 2022 claiming that Kyle Rittenhouse had sued Whoopi Goldberg and "The View."
January 2023: Brewery Cancels Rittenhouse Event
A Texas brewery cancelled an event featuring Kyle Rittenhouse in January 2023, citing concerns about its values. Rittenhouse accused the brewery of censorship.
February 2023: Rittenhouse Named as Defendant in Grosskreutz Lawsuit
In February 2023, Gaige Grosskreutz added Kyle Rittenhouse as a named defendant to his lawsuit filed in federal court.
August 2023: Rittenhouse Forms Non-Profit in Texas
In August 2023, Kyle Rittenhouse established a non-profit foundation in Texas focused on legal rights, including Second Amendment support.