History of Kyle Rittenhouse in Timeline
Kyle Rittenhouse is an American man who, at 17, shot three men (two fatally) in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during 2020 protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse, armed and among a group claiming to protect businesses, engaged in confrontations, fatally shooting two men attempting to disarm him, and wounding another who aimed a handgun. Charged with homicide, Rittenhouse argued self-defense at trial and was acquitted in November 2021. As of February 2023, he faces two pending civil lawsuits.
February 2000: Rittenhouse Parents' Marriage
In February 2000, Michael and Wendy Rittenhouse, Kyle Rittenhouse's parents, were married in Lake County, Illinois, three years prior to Kyle's birth.
January 3, 2003: Kyle Rittenhouse's Birth
On January 3, 2003, Kyle Howard Rittenhouse was born. He would later become known for his involvement in a shooting incident in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020.
2014: Rittenhouse Parents' Separation
By 2014, Kyle Rittenhouse's parents, Michael and Wendy Rittenhouse, had separated.
2016: Tucker Carlson Tonight Premiere
In 2016, Tucker Carlson Tonight premiered on Fox News. An interview with Kyle Rittenhouse after his acquittal became the show's second-most watched episode since its premiere.
2017: First Semester at Lakes Community High School
Kyle Rittenhouse attended Lakes Community High School for one semester in 2017 before dropping out in 2018.
December 2018: Fundraiser for Humanizing the Badge
In December 2018, Kyle Rittenhouse initiated a fundraiser via Facebook for Humanizing the Badge, a non-profit organization.
2018: High School Dropout
In 2018, Kyle Rittenhouse dropped out of Lakes Community High School after attending for one semester in 2017–2018, transitioning to online school before leaving altogether.
January 2019: Nicholas Sandmann's Lincoln Memorial Confrontation
In January 2019, Nicholas Sandmann, a Covington Catholic High School student, became known for the Lincoln Memorial confrontation, an event to which The Tennessee Star compared Rittenhouse's announcement.
January 30, 2020: Attended Trump Rally
On January 30, 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse attended a Trump rally in Des Moines, Iowa, and was seated in the front row.
March 2020: Furloughed from YMCA Lifeguard Job
In March 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse was furloughed from his part-time job as a lifeguard at the YMCA in Lindenhurst due to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to public facility shutdowns.
August 2020: Kenosha Shooting Incident
In August 2020, amid protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and shot three men, fatally wounding two. He claimed self-defense.
August 2020: Travel to Kenosha
In late August 2020, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse traveled from Antioch, Illinois, to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to help protect local businesses after protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake.
August 25, 2020: Kenosha Shooting
On August 25, 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse, armed with an AR-15 style rifle, shot three men during civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prior to the unrest, he participated in cleaning graffiti.
2020: Biden Campaign Video
During his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden used images of Kyle Rittenhouse in a campaign video, which the BBC noted "appeared to link Rittenhouse, without any evidence, to white supremacists."
2020: Social Media Posts Supporting Law Enforcement
In 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse's social media posts revolved around "honoring police, with Blue Lives Matter graphics, photos of officers killed in the line of duty, and the "thin blue line" flag associated with support for law enforcement."
2020: Controversy Over YouTube Content Moderation
In 2020, YouTube faced criticism for its content moderation regarding videos depicting Kyle Rittenhouse, allegedly allowing videos glorifying violence and monetizing the killings through merchandise links. This continued until a BBC journalist pointed it out.
August 2021: Federal Lawsuit Filed
In August 2021, the family of a man fatally shot by Kyle Rittenhouse filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Wisconsin against the police and county sheriff's departments in Kenosha.
October 2021: Grosskreutz Lawsuit Filed
In October 2021, Gaige Grosskreutz filed a lawsuit in federal court. Kyle Rittenhouse was later added as a named defendant in February 2023.
October 2021: Enrollment at Arizona State University and Protests
In October 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse began taking online classes at Arizona State University as a non-degree seeking student. ASU students held a rally called "Killer off campus" to protest Rittenhouse's enrollment. By the following month, he had withdrawn.
November 2021: Rittenhouse Acquittal
In November 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges related to the Kenosha shooting incident after pleading self-defense at trial.
November 2021: "Kyle's Law" Introduced in Oklahoma
In November 2021, Oklahoma State Senator Nathan Dahm introduced Senate Bill 1120, known as "Kyle's Law," which proposed that the state reimburse defendants found not guilty of murder due to justifiable homicide.
November 2021: Congressional Gold Medal Act Introduced
In November 2021, U.S. House representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced the Kyle H. Rittenhouse Congressional Gold Medal Act (H.R.6070), which aimed to award Rittenhouse the Congressional Gold Medal.
November 2021: Criminal Trial in Kenosha
In November 2021, at a criminal trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Kyle Rittenhouse's defense argued he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors contended he provoked the other participants and was an active shooter.
November 17, 2021: Internship Offers from Republican Lawmakers
On November 17, 2021, two days before the verdict in his trial, Florida House Representative Matt Gaetz offered Kyle Rittenhouse an internship. Other Republican lawmakers, including Paul Gosar, Madison Cawthorn, and Lauren Boebert, also offered internships. Cori Bush called for their expulsion.
November 22, 2021: Picture with Publicist Goes Viral
On November 22, 2021, a picture of Kyle Rittenhouse with his publicist, Jillian Anderson, a former contestant on season 19 of the reality TV show "The Bachelor," went viral on social media.
December 2021: Appearance at AmericaFest
In December 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse appeared at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest conservative youth conference, participating in a panel called "Kenosha on Camera" on December 20. He spoke about Second Amendment rights.
January 2022: Rittenhouse Named as Defendant
In January 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse was added as a named defendant in the federal lawsuit initially filed in August 2021 by the family of one of the men he fatally shot.
January 2022: Considering Writing a Book
In January 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse's spokesman, David Hancock, stated that Rittenhouse was considering writing a book about his experiences, describing it as an "unorthodox journey into adulthood," with discussions in the early phase.
January 2022: Introduction of "Kyle's Law"
In January 2022, Tennessee State Representative Bruce Griffey introduced HB1769, known as "Kyle's Law," which would require the state to reimburse defendants found not guilty of homicide due to self-defense. Griffey also proposed a proclamation honoring Rittenhouse, calling him a hero.
February 2022: Launch of the Media Accountability Project
In February 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse announced the launch of the Media Accountability Project (TMAP) during an interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight.
February 2022: "Kyle's Law" Passes Committee
In February 2022, a modified version of "Kyle's Law" passed out of the Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Committee with a 7–3 vote along party lines.
March 2022: Shared Gas Price Meme
In March 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse shared a meme on Twitter using a manipulated image of himself crying during his trial to mock rising gas prices, attributing it to Joe Biden's presidency.
March 2022: Acquitted Video Game Release
In March 2022, Swedish company Nordic Empire Games released a video game called "Acquitted", featuring Kyle Rittenhouse, available for $5 on the Steam platform. The game, which features Rittenhouse shooting zombies, was created by a far-right extremist group.
June 2022: Announcement of Attending Texas A&M University
In June 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse stated he would be attending Texas A&M University, but a university spokesperson denied he had been accepted. Rittenhouse later posted he would be attending Blinn College, which a spokesperson confirmed he had applied to, but had not enrolled.
June 23, 2022: Announced 'Kyle Rittenhouse's Turkey Shoot' Video Game
On June 23, 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse announced a video game called "Kyle Rittenhouse's Turkey Shoot," developed by Mint Studios, with proceeds intended to fund future media defamation lawsuits. The game features a cartoon Rittenhouse shooting turkeys that represent the media.
October 16, 2022: Launch of YouTube Channel
On October 16, 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse launched a YouTube channel focused on guns and the Second Amendment. His first video featured him firing a handgun and an automatic rifle and included YouTube gun advocate Brandon Herrera as a guest. The video was later deleted, and the channel became dormant.
November 2022: Rittenhouse Meets with Second Amendment Caucus
In November 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse met with Republican House of Representative members of the Second Amendment Caucus in Washington D.C. to discuss his experiences and answer questions. Caucus members present included Reps. Lauren Boebert, Thomas Massie, Andrew Clyde, and Byron Donalds.
2022: Turning Point Young Women's Leadership Summit Appearance
In 2022, Kyle Rittenhouse appeared onstage at a Turning Point Young Women's Leadership Summit, where he was presented as someone who would protect his family and stand strong against opposition.
2022: False Lawsuit Rumor
In 2022, a satirical story circulated on social media claiming Kyle Rittenhouse had filed and settled a lawsuit against Whoopi Goldberg and The View. The story was false.
2022: Move to Texas
In 2022, after being acquitted of the Kenosha shootings, Kyle Rittenhouse moved to Texas.
January 2023: Brewery Cancels Anti-Censorship Rally
In January 2023, a Texas brewery cancelled an anti-censorship rally featuring Kyle Rittenhouse, citing concerns from local patrons and a conflict with its values. Rittenhouse responded by accusing the brewery of censoring him.
February 2023: Civil Lawsuits Pending
As of February 2023, two civil lawsuits against Kyle Rittenhouse were pending related to the August 2020 Kenosha shooting incident.
February 2023: Grosskreutz Adds Rittenhouse to Lawsuit
In February 2023, Gaige Grosskreutz, who survived the Kenosha shooting, added Kyle Rittenhouse as a defendant to a lawsuit initially filed in October 2021.
April 2023: Rittenhouse Countersues Grosskreutz
In April 2023, Kyle Rittenhouse countersued Gaige Grosskreutz, who had previously included Rittenhouse in a lawsuit against him.
August 2023: Formation of the Rittenhouse Foundation
In August 2023, Kyle Rittenhouse formed the Rittenhouse Foundation, a Texas-based non-profit organization aimed at protecting legal rights. The organization's filing includes wording from the Second Amendment. Chris McNutt, president of Texas Gun Rights, is a director of the foundation.
December 2023: Release of "Acquitted"
In December 2023, Kyle Rittenhouse's book, "Acquitted," co-authored with Mark Richards and Michael Quinn Sullivan, was released. Richards was Rittenhouse's lead defense lawyer, and Sullivan was the CEO of former conservative advocacy group Empower Texans.
March 2024: Protests at University of Memphis
In March 2024, Kyle Rittenhouse left a University of Memphis stage after facing protests and politically themed questions. The speaking event was sponsored by Turning Point USA.
June 2024: Named Outreach Director for Texas Gun Rights
In June 2024, Kyle Rittenhouse was named the outreach director for Texas Gun Rights, a state affiliate of the National Association for Gun Rights.
October 2024: Bands Pull Out of Charity Music Festival
In October 2024, after it was announced Kyle Rittenhouse would appear at a charity music festival in Orlando, several bands, including Evergreen Terrace, pulled out of the event, with Evergreen Terrace calling him a "murderer". The organizers of the Shell Shock II festival supported Rittenhouse's participation.
February 2025: Rittenhouse Speaks at University of Memphis
In late February 2025, Kyle Rittenhouse returned to the University of Memphis and spoke to about 40 people without interruptions, answering questions afterwards while protestors gathered outside. The speaking event was sponsored by Turning Point USA.
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