The man who purchased the rifle for Kyle Rittenhouse has now been charged. More on this developing story below!
Rifle for Kyle Rittenhouse: Illegally Bought
Questions have continued to arise in connection to the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle that Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, used in self-defense during rioting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25.
Now, 19-year-old Dominick Black has been charged with illegally giving the rifle to Rittenhouse.
Black has been charged with two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under 18, resulting in death.
These are Class 1 Felonies in Wisconsin, punishable by up to 3 ½ years in state prison, fines of up to $10,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.
There is one count each for Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, the men that Rittenhouse shot and killed.
Black told investigators that he purchased the rifle for Kyle Rittenhouse at an Ace Hardware in Ladysmith, Wisconsin over the summer, with money that Rittenhouse gave him.
Because Rittenhouse is a minor, he was unable to purchase the rifle. Black signed paperwork for the rifle as though it were his own.
Rittenhouse never took possession of the rifle until the night of August 25. It remained in Wisconsin and never crossed state lines into Illinois.
Because of this, prosecutors in Illinois declined to issue any charges related to the case. Federal prosecutors have not filed any firearm-related charges, either.
Rittenhouse faces one misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 in Wisconsin.
How the Rifle Reached Rittenhouse
The rifle remained at Black’s stepfather’s house in Kenosha until the night of August 25.
It was in a locked safe until August 24, when Black’s stepfather brought it into his home as violence escalated outside his house in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Black decided to go into downtown Kenosha on August 25 to help clean up graffiti and guard businesses, which his stepfather recommended he not do.
Black armed himself with his own rifle. He kept the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 in the trunk of his car prior to and after the shootings by Rittenhouse.
He brought the rifle to the Antioch police after Rittenhouse turned himself in a few hours after the shooting.
Black stayed on the roof of an auto body repair shop. He said he was guarding the shop against rioters and looters.
He said he did not see any of the shootings that Rittenhouse was involved in.
What’s Next For Black?
Black knew that he could face charges for purchasing and providing the rifle for Rittenhouse.
In police reports, Black told police he “told Kyle that he (Black) was going to be in more trouble than Kyle.
He told Kyle that he (Kyle) was defending himself and said he told Kyle “In all reality, you are not supposed to have that gun. That gun was in my name.”
Black first spoke with the police in the early hours of August 26, shortly after Rittenhouse turned himself in.
He turned in both rifles that they brought with them on the night of August 25.
Black attended his first court appearance on Monday via Zoom from the Kenosha County Jail.
Court Commissioner Loren Keating set bail at $2,500.
She also ordered Black to have no contact with Rittenhouse or Gaige Grosskreutz, the West Allis man Rittenhouse wounded that same night.
Black’s attorney expected his bond would be posted. Black will return to court on November 19 for a preliminary hearing. He has no criminal past.
As for Rittenhouse, he has been held at the Kenosha County Jail on a $2 million bail since his failed effort to fight extradition from Illinois.
Do you think that Black should be punished more than Rittenhouse? We'd like to hear your thoughts in the comments section!
Up Next:
- An Update on the Arrest Details of Kyle Rittenhouse
- ATF Improvement and Modernization Act Seeks to Make ATF ‘Above the Law’
- Boy Suspended For BB Gun Incident & What His Lawyer Says About What’s Next
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Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 13, 2020, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
There should be no charges. It was self defense. As far as age. I went into the military at 17 years of age and was handed rifles that are a helluva a lot more powerful than anything that shoots 223 caliber ammo. It’s all an attempt by the right to make them the scapegoat for their failures. They would not the police operate as police, or outsiders would not have volunteered to help.
Exactly neither one of them Kyle or his friend should be facing jail time
Blame BLM and the protesters/looters trying to control the media through anarchy and lawlessness! Not the citizens trying to defend themselves and their neighbors, my God?
The entire treasonous terrorist criminal Democrat Party is at fault, not Black, not Rittenhouse. The Democrat Party funds and directs the two TERRORIST groups called antifa and BL don’t M! If the Democrat terrorist filth hadn’t been terrorizing the city of Kenosha, as well as other regions of the United States, those two Democrat terrorist might still be alive. As it is/was, those terrorist vermin decided their marching orders included making an attempt to murder someone that was defending private property, something ghe filthy politicians and law enforcement REFUSED to do. The politicians and law enforcement personnel belong in jail charged with aiding and abetting the commission of treason and terrorism by Democrat Party controlled brainwashed goons.
Neither should be facing ANY charges for this!
Rittenhouse was defending himself from armed rioters that were trying to do him harm and he never took possession of, or crossed state lines with, the rifle before that night.
We need to put ourselves in Rittenhouse’s shoes on that night and ask ourselves what we’d have done in that predicament facing armed and violent felons.