Just when you thought that the Kyle Rittenhouse case was over . . . it is back. Gaige Grosskreutz who was shot in the arm by Kyle Rittenhouse during the Kenosha riots in 2020 is now suing him as well as Wisconsin police and officials. Grosskreutz effectively repeats his earlier rejected claims that he was merely trying to protect others and had his hands up when Rittenhouse shot him. The difference is that this civil lawsuit will be resolved under the lower standard of proof by a preponderance of the evidence (rather than beyond a reasonable doubt). Nevertheless, the case could prove messy for Grosskreutz whose criminal background and actions that night could undermine his claims. Indeed, the most damaging witness against Grosskreutz may prove to be himself.
The lawsuit names as defendants Rittenhouse, the city of Kenosha, Kenosha County, five other neighboring counties, police officers, former Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth and former Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis. Grosskreutz alleges assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Rittenhouse was also added to Grosskreutz’s civil rights and Equal Protection claims against the city and local officials.
In the trial, Grosskreutz admitted that he pointed a firearm at Rittenhouse before the then-teenager shot Grosskreutz and two others. He testified that he carried a loaded gun that night and, during cross-examination, defense attorney Corey Chirafisi asked Grosskreutz, “It wasn’t until you pointed your gun at him, advanced on him … that he fired, right?” Grosskreutz responded, “Correct.”
Grosskreutz also admitted that he refused initially to answer questions from the police and refused to give police permission to look through his phone. He also did not tell police that he was armed that night or pointed a gun at Rittenhouse. As shown in the testimony below, Grosskreutz admits that Rittenhouse did not shoot while Grosskreutz had his hands up. He fired when Grosskreutz pointed his Glock at Rittenhouse.
Grosskreutz also admitted that Rittenhouse told him that he was going to the police and was running in their direction. He also admitted that he lied to police when he said that he tried to tell a man with a skateboard to stop hitting Rittenhouse before he was shot. The false statement to police portrayed Rittenhouse as shooting him after he tried to help him.
The complaint repeatedly brushes over that earlier testimony and reframes the facts as if Grooskreutz was shot virtually randomly:
“Plaintiff Gaige Grosskreutz watched all of this happen.
He approached with his hands in the air to try to ease the situation and stop the killing. 27. Defendant Rittenhouse instead shot Mr. Grosskreutz in the bicep, leaving a gaping wound.
Thankfully, Mr. Grosskreutz did not die that day.
…
Plaintiff Gaige Grosskreutz approached Defendant Rittenhouse with his hands up, pleading with him to stop his shooting rampage. Without provocation or any legal justification, Defendant Rittenhouse shot at Grosskreutz from point-blank range, hitting him in the arm. Thankfully, Grosskreutz survived.” But he must live with the physical and emotional wounds inflicted by Defendant Rittenhouse and the Defendants who deputized and enabled him. The conduct of the Defendants in this case directly caused Gaige Grosskreutz’s injury.”
Grosskreutz also admitted that it was him on his cellphone footage who angrily yelled at Rittenhouse to go home as Rittenhouse tried to give masks to protesters. He admitted that did not see any violent acts or threats from Rittenhouse before the shooting.
Grosskreutz also admitted his CCW permit was invalid and that he was therefore illegally carrying a concealed weapon on the night, though he insisted that he did not know it was invalid.
Grosskreutz was also questioned on the stand about his seeking $10 million in a lawsuit against the city and another lawsuit in federal court for damages. He admitted that he did not mention in the two filings that he was armed at the time. He also admitted in trial that a conviction of Rittenhouse would help him secure the $10 million.
It is not clear how he will get around that admissible earlier testimony. Instead, the complaint seems more of a diatribe against the police who it alleges “deputized these armed individuals, conspired with them, and ratified their actions by letting them patrol the streets, armed with deadly weapons, to mete out justice as they saw fit.” The problem is that these individuals had a right to carry guns. Indeed, Grosshreutz also came to the protest armed.
The complaint also alleges that Rittenhouse was linked to right-wing white nationalist and militia groups, noting that a member of the so-called Boogaloo Bois was seen “patrolling the streets” with Rittenhouse that night, and that he later met with Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. It also states that “in the months after he killed two people and maimed Mr. Grosskreutz, Defendant Rittenhouse was seen in a bar in his hometown flashing an ‘OK’ sign, a symbol of white supremacy/white power.” Such evidence would be challenged by the defense as prejudicial and inadmissible at trial.
There is also likely to be fight over the admission of Grosskreutz’s criminal history, which was not fully admitted at the criminal trial. That criminal history extended a full decade before the Kenosha shooting and involved violence against his girlfriend. Indeed, just days before the shooting, Grosskreutz was arrested for allegedly “prowling” when he was videotaping police vehicles in a police department parking lot around 1 a.m.
In May 2015, Grosskreutz was stopped by police near Kenosha with allegedly “bloodshot and glassy” eyes and found to have a 9mm Glock 19 handgun in his vehicle.
In 2013, he was charged with smashing the bedroom window of former girlfriend’s home at 4 a.m.. The girlfriend alleged that he had been harassing her.
In 2012, Grosskreutz was charged with a felony burglary charge in New Berlin when he was caught trying to sell three stolen PlayStation consoles.
In 2010, Grosskreutz was arrested and charged with hitting his grandmother in the face during a dispute. During the attack, he also allegedly threw a lamp and damaged a wall. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage.
He also reportedly had various sealed juvenile arrests.
The lower standard of proof will obviously work to the advantage of Grosskreutz, but it will be hard to get around his prior testimony or the image of him pointing the Glock at Rittenhouse before the teenager fired, wounding him in the arm.
Rittenhouse is also facing a lawsuit by one of the men shot on that night. A federal judge ruled that the lawsuit by the family of Anthony Huber could go to trial. Huber, 26, struck Rittenhouse with his skateboard before Rittenhouse shot and killed him.
Here is the complaint: Grosskreutz v. Rittenhouse
Here is Grosskreutz’s earlier testimony:
He might as well accuse Rittenhouse of being a deplorable with orange hair in this trunk full of lies.
I watched the Grosskreutz testimony during the Rittenhouse trial.
I literally said, “Oh, my gawd!” when admitted he pointed his gun at Rittenhouse.
Grosskreutz was a better witness for the defense than he was for the DA.
Given that Rittenhouse s a double-murderer who deliberately went there to kill and dd and crippled a third person he absolutely should be sued—along with the judge, who acted as de facto co-counsel for the defense. II don’t know why you don’t understand this basic concept. Self-defense is pretty clear when some lunatic brandishing an assault rifle comes at you in a threatening manner. The history of the person defending is entirely irrelevant.
@the independent
Anon? Gigi? ‘Justice’ Holmes? That you? 🙄🙄
You clearly did not watch the trial.
And the jury found Rittenhouse not guilty.
Rittenhouse did not have an “assault rifle.”
@upstate
The post in question ignores all of the verifiable facts, many *sworn testimony on video* even in the column, let alone the incident. Said it before: you know we are onto something when the completely rando trolls show up.
James,
Yep.
Leftist talking points.
Yes not guilty.
Started out innocent, finished innocent.
‘assault rifle’ is one of those phrases leftists use all the time, but when pressed, are unable to define.
Clearly you didn’t watch the trial.
The judge let the prosecution enter last minute evidence that hadn’t been vetted by the defense on the last day of the trial.
The prosecution committed a violation of the 5th amendment and the judge (with the jury excused) exploded and ripped them a new one reminding them of basic constitutional law…. and yet he refused the defense’s request for a mistrial.
The while trial was a s%*t show of prosecutorial misconduct, one Im glad was watched by conservatives who now could see how perverted the justice system is against defendants.
In the end, while the defense was denied their repeated request for a mistrial, it was the prosecution who ended up wishing the mistrial had been granted.
Rittenhouse shot three hoodlums rioters who went out of their way to assault, attack or threaten him with a deadly weapon. The night’s reconstruction at trial was very clear:
– Rittenhouse firearm was legal (surprise!)
– In the lead up to the confrontations Rittenhouse used his firearm in accordance to the law (ie he didnt point it at anyone, didnt behave menacingly, etc)
– Rittenhouse’s first hit was fully justified, the man chased him, Rittenhouse first ran away, the man was clearly out of his mind and violent. Rittenhouse was unable to flee.
– The second guy, skateboarder guy, assaulted Rittenhouse who was again trying to flee. Skateboarder (with a history of violence unbeknownst to the jury) assaulted Rittenhouse (who had tripped fleeing) with a deadly weapon (a skateboard being used as a club).
– Finally, one-armed over here, pointed an illegal weapon to a man on the ground after pretending he was unarmed. As a result Rittenhouse lowered his weapon. One-armed then tried to shoot Rittenhouse but Rittenhouse disarmed him. Permanently.
And Im glad. Going forward, Onearm will be far less effective at assaulting his family members and loved ones, as he is wont to do. Having had his dominant hand blown off, any future use of firearms will be ineffectively aimed, and necessarily of a lower calibre.
“Rittenhouse disarmed him. Permanently.”
LOLOL.
Thanks for best comment of the day ‘Rittenhouse disarmed him’.
Makes you wonder how he only killed two people given the target-rich environment and his gun’s capacity and his predisposition to murder.
Take a hike with your BS, no one is buying it.
Independent…yeah, independent of thought, analysis or common sense. Partisan hack!
He’s a hit-and-run troll.
Rittenhouse could counter-sue for assault, right, since plaintiff pointed a loaded gun at him?
In my opinion the lawyer that filed the case should be severely disciplined for filing a suite that contains known lies.
The case should be thrown out due to the blatant lies.
You should file a complaint with the MN AGs office. I’m sure Keith Ellison is interested in hearing from you.
Do you mean Wisconsin?
D’oh!
Thx.
Was there no motion to dismiss?
Lawyers take cases on contingency.
These lawyers are not betting on any income from this.
Who is paying the lawyers?
Exactly. They’re using Lawfare. He took out their paid goons.
Kyle Rittenhouse has occupied Democrat minds for a long time. People tried to kill him, but Democrats choose to forget that and want to go after the innocent individual.
The Democrat mind doesn’t worry about a potential war in the middle east which is coming (and will involve the US) because Iran has pledged to destroy Israel and their rockets have been pounding Israel through their proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. When will Democrats get their heads straight and realize that the world is dangerous and they are making it more-so.
—
IRAN’S URANIUM ENRICHMENT HITS A NEW HIGH
International atomic monitors in Iran have detected uranium enriched to levels just below nuclear weapons-grade, risking an escalation over Tehran’s expanding program.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is trying to clarify how Iran accumulated uranium enriched to 84% purity — the highest level found by inspectors in the country to date, and a concentration just 6% below what’s needed for a weapon.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/iran-nuclear-inspectors-detect-uranium-174936572.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall&guccounter=1
“The complaint repeatedly . . .”
In sum, the complaint is: I was rioting. Rittenhouse made me pay for the consequences of rioting. How dare he!
It would seem any reasonable judge, on being appraised of the criminal trial testimony and videotape would have tossed this in the first 10 minutes of argument. We’re not Canada or the UK yet. We have the right to defend our selves. It would also seem that with a lower standard of proof, his person of dubious reputation will likely have all his previous charges and actions up there on the big screen.
What part of this did the judge not understand. Maybe this judge needs a mental competency test.
Of course I also have to remember that OJ was found not guilty of his wife’s murder and spent many years searching for the real killer on all the golf courses of California. Up until he committed burglary in Los Vegas and was sent away for about 9 years.
Just like, ‘I didn’t do it, the SUV did.’.
These people are not well. Not well in the clinical sense. The madness of the left in this country is truly getting tough to even wrap one’s head around.
What was the Plaintiff doing put on the street to begin with…..he should have been in Prison serving time for the many Felony crimes he was charged with…and either not prosecuted or if so….never spent any time in Prison.
However could he have obtained a CCW is another good question….any “Lies” there?
As to. his possession of the firearm….any “Lies” on the ATF paperwork he signed when he purchased the Glock …..he did purchase the Glock from a legal source…right?
The sad commentary of this whole thing is it was only a wound to the guy’s arm….and not one that severed the Brain Stem.
Let’s all watch re-runs for the shooting video and compare that to the Plaintiff’s new account of things…oh…how many different accounts has he offered and how many turned out to be accurate, factual, and corroborated?
They Karma can be awkward at times…..now the Democrat run governments shall have to join WITH Rittenhouse in defending the Law Suit….somehow I do find that entertaining.
They cannot defend their Poster Boy of the Leftist Radical movement as if they do it shall cost them lots of money.
Sometimes the Lord doth work in mysterious ways don’t he!
Why was this man not in jail? He admitted to illegally carrying a gun. He admitted to pointing it at Rittenhouse (aggravated assault).
He should be doing 15 years. He would be in Florida. Maybe that is why our crime is at a 50 year low.
Congratulations to Mr. Grosskreutz’s handlers for an outstanding job of Judge shopping. The effort to criminalize Self Defense in the United States continues unabated. Thank you, Jonathan, for an excellent article.
If I were a cynical, fed-up conservative, I’d swear that some Democrat, somewhere, is behind this as propaganda for their anti-gun campaign. But I’m not cynic, so I’ll just chalk it up to the bottomless pit of stupidity and insanity that defines today’s liberals and Democrats.
Jury will be out for all of five minutes on this one
Professor Turley: “A federal judge ruled that the lawsuit by the family of Anthony Huber could go to trial.”
Dementia-crats and their corrupt judges. Thanks to them, the justice system was a shooting gallery for trial lawyers long before Kenosha.
“A federal judge ruled that the lawsuit by the family of Anthony Huber could go to trial. Huber, 26, struck Rittenhouse with his skateboard before Rittenhouse shot and killed him.”
That judge is an 83-yr old, former dem state senator appointed by clinton – nice work getting your case in front of him, whomever is fronting this case for the Hubers (dnc). Imagine having to reopen the festering embarrassment that is your f’ed-up kid in order to appease the ghouls in the dnc. LOL. Wonder what they promised those poor saps. Pathetic.
Neil: “Wonder what they promised those poor saps.”
Soros money is my guess. Good post, Neil.
Soros money (and/or SEIU??) and keith ellison with the judge shopping assist, no doubt.
Who knew Kenosha was in WI and not MN – keith ellison is less likely a culprit – but i’m not ruling him out entirely. D’oh!
For that kid to do as much right as he did is amazing. In the heat of the moment when this pos came after him and had his gun out Kyle didn’t shoot until the human stain pointed his gun at him.
Grosskreutz represents everything wrong with our great nation.
The only thing Rittenhouse is guilty of is poor shooting. Antifa is always in season.
As my college business law professor explained when asked about a question on an exam, “when it says “can he sue?” it means “can he win?” Anyone can sue!”
This is a totally sickening “lawsuit”! Rittenhouse should sue him for intentional infliction of emotional distress. I think that when you admit to aiming a glock at someone and advancing on that person in the middle of a riot your defense loses some of it’s luster.
This is a typical ANTIFA goon that will not take responsibility for their actions. They want to burn cities to the ground, attack people and even police officers with impunity and when you fight back they cry to their mommies and scream that it isn’t fair. He was seen videotaping police cars??? He was armed. He has a criminal background. He attacked the “defendant”. This lawsuit is sickening, and the attorneys that took it should be ashamed.