Two Criminal Trials happened simultaneously in the United States. In both cases, 1 man had to defend himself against 3 men. Each case also had a firearm involved. In each case there are lawyers, video evidence and tragically, death. This is where the similarities end. The purpose of the confrontation, the consequences of the engagement and the result of each case in society couldn’t be more different.
First, lets look at what happened
On February 23, 2020, just before the world is gripped by Covid-19, Ahmaud Arbery is chased and gunned down in the street. Arbery a 25-year-old black man was on a jog in the Satilla Shores subdivision near Brunswick Georgia. Three white men, father Gregory McMichael, son Travis McMichael, and neighbor William Bryan, chase Arbery in vehicles and were armed with at least 1 shotgun.
The three men stated their purpose were to stop Arbery and perform a “Citizens Arrest” because they believed he had stolen from a home construction they saw him walk through. At some point Travis and Ahmaud both had their hands on the rifle, brought to the scene by Travis. During the struggle Ahmaud is shot at least 3 times.
FACTS
- Video evidence puts Arbery in the new construction home but does not show anything was taken nor was anything found on him.
- Citizens were allowed to make Citizen’s Arrest at the time of this event.
- Gregory McMichael was an investigator for the Brunswick County DA office prior to his retirement.
Ahmaud Arbery is no longer here to express how he felt in his final minutes of life. Given historical events and more recent situations between black and white race relations, he had to defend himself. He couldn’t outrun them nor was he armed with a lethal projectile weapon of his own. He fought for his life and lost.
The killing of Arbery, Floyd, Taylor, and other events in America pitted black people vs a justice system that see what it wants to see. This created cities in chaos. Citizens marched and occupied buildings and roadways. Many time the opportunist among the protesters set fires and damaged buildings and cars. Many would also steal from business and residences. On August 23, a Kenosha Wisconsin police officer responding to a domestic disturbance, shoots Jacob Blake. The shooting transitioned this community from protesting events from other cities to now protesting their own. On Aug 25, after 2 nights of riots, calls go to the citizens of Kenosha to ‘Take up arms,’ ‘to defend the city.’ On that night protestors are met with men armed with assault rifles throughout the city, including in front of the Kenosha County Public Safety building. Also, on that night 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse killed 2 men and injured 1. All four are white.
FACTS
- Blake was shot 7 times from behind
- The National Guard had been contacted by Aug 24, day 2.
- Various groups and FB pages encouraged citizens to bare arms and shoot protestors.
Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old resident of Antioch, Illinois, traveled to Wisconsin to help defend a city and property that he, nor anyone he knows, own. There are various accounts to what events led to the confrontations between Rittenhouse, 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum of Kenosha, 26-year-old Anthony Huber of Silver Lake, Wisconsin and, 27-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz from West Allis. Here is what we know about those involved
Kyle Rittenhouse was an ardent police supporter serving as a youth cadet in the Grayslake Police Department and posting photos of himself brandishing a rifle above the caption “Blue Lives Matter.” He even posed for photos with the Proud Boys. He followed different citizen brigade organizations on social media.
Rosenbaum was released the day of the shootings from a Milwaukee hospital where he had been treated for a suicide attempt.
Huber was a skateboarder with a couple prison stints.
Grosskreutz attended several protests following Floyd’s May 2020 death. With training as a paramedic, he carried medical supplies and a handgun.
That night, prior to the shootings, Rittenhouse was interviewed multiple times by various vloggers and reporters. During an interview by a reporter from the Daily Caller he stated, “People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business,” Rittenhouse told the reporter “And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, I’m running into harm’s way.” He also mentioned ‘that is why I had my rifle and med kit,’ in some online articles. In addition to interviews, there are also multiple videos showing Rittenhouse embracing his position amongst the other armed citizens.
There are multiple videos online of the order of the shootings. Most of them has been edited at the time of the shooting or were not in the position to capture the lethal shots. Video evidence goes as follows:
- Videos show citizens walking calmly down a street appearing to be dispersing from an event or perhaps clearing the area. Law enforcement can be seen following but were blocks away. Suddenly, Rittenhouse appears into the shot running into a parking lot from the street, cornering himself, with Rosenbaum chasing. Rosenbaum throws a white bag; Rittenhouse turns and fire multiple shots from his AR-15 style rifle. Kenosha Shooting | Rittenhouse First Shot Mystery Solved Before Shooting Of Rosenbaum – Bing video
- Multiple online video show Rittenhouse then leaves the scene walking back towards the direction he came from. However, Protestors start to follow Rittenhouse shouting, many of them are aware he shot Rosenbaum. The next video on the timeline shows Rittenhouse on the ground. While Rittenhouse is on the ground, he is kicked by one man, then hit with a skateboard by Anthony Huber. Huber was shot and killed.
- Photos show people continued to approach a downed Rittenhouse including Grosskreutz with his pistol in hand. Images show a few feet between them when they both appear to train their weapons towards each other. Grosskreutz is shot in the arm. Rittenhouse gets up and jogs multiple yards towards the approaching law enforcement officers.
The approaching law enforcement officers, unaware of all the chaos that went on now had to start a homicide investigation allowing Rittenhouse to go home.
The end results
Although Arbery was killed February 23, an arrest was not made until May 7. Three months and multiple District Attorneys later. As previously stated, McMichael had a working relationship with the DA’s office and they believed he acted lawfully. The case eventually went to trial. Gregory McMichael, son Travis McMichael, and neighbor William Bryan were on trial together and were found guilty of multiple counts which includes felony murder. The verdict was surprising due to the only evidence was cell phone video.
Kyle Rittenhouse went home soon after the killings and turned himself in later that night. After a trial, Rittenhouse was found to have acted lawfully. There were dozens of witnesses, and multiple cell phone video evidence that was not admitted in the trial. After the trial Rittenhouse was treated like a hero.
The WYT: We got Questions
Was Arbery stealing? Was what he could have stolen worth his life?
If Arbery would have complied with the request of the chasing white men, would he have been killed anyway?
What would have been the process once law enforcement arrived? Would they have taken the word of Arbery or the 3 assailants?
Could they have been charged for chasing and detaining Arbery at gun point if there were no evidence of theft?
Would William Bryan have been in convicted if he was on trial alone?
Did Kyle Rittenhouse break any laws acquiring and brandishing a firearm as a minor?
Were laws broken we he left the scene?
If Kyle Rittenhouse was the victim, why weren’t other people among the mob arrested and charged in this case?
Why did Rittenhouse separate himself from the other armed men? During that separation, how was there such an immediate confrontation?
What would be different if the race of those involved were different?
Final Thought
There are multiple levels of criminal justice. There are suspects and victims. There are the people who make arrests and detain the suspects. There are the attorneys, the judge, and the jury. No One person can be them all. Citizens nor law enforcement should assume all roles on the streets of this country. There should be strict penalties for taking a life of another human. Law enforcement is provided protection and training that should not only diffuse violent situations but also physically protect them when violence happens. Gun owners should be required to undergo training the reduces kill shots. Overall, people shouldn’t kill other people. Justice is the right of all humanity. No life is more valuable than another life.