Courts lose Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse

(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

By Curtis Brodner

(KENOSHA, Wis.) Prosecutors said Wedneseday that Kyle Rittenhouse, the 18-year-old who shot three Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wis., killing two, violated his bond agreement by changing his home address without informing the courts, reported Intelligencer.

The prosecution is calling for a bond increase of $200,000 and a warrant for his arrest.

After failing to respond to a notice from the courts in December, Kenosha detectives went to Rittenhouse’s home. There, they found a man who said his lease for the property started Dec. 15, less than a month after Rittenhouse posted $2 million in bail.

After killing racial justice protesters, Rittenhouse has become a hero to far-right extremists and police supporters.

“Happy Birthday, Kyle Rittenhouse. Today is his 18th birthday,” wrote one anonymous user in the #FreeKyleRittenhouses group on the right-wing social media platform Gab. “Kyle is a true American hero. Gob bless, Kyle.” Alongside the text, the user posted a picture of Rittenhouse holding a rifle as a young child and a picture of Rittenhouse from the night of the shooting, holding the gun he used to kill protesters.

The teen vigilante raised bail money using crowdfunding from Christian and right-wing groups, according to Insider, and he likely could raise another $200,000 using the same means.

Mark Richards, one of Rittenhouse’s attorneys, said he was moved to a safe house after receiving threats, according to NBC.

"While completing paperwork related to Kyle’s release, Attorney Pierce was directly informed by a high-ranking member of the Kenosha Police Department not to provide the address of the Rittenhouse Safe House because of the numerous threats made against Kyle and his family," Richards told NBC.

Rittenhouse was spotted on Jan. 5 in a Mount Pleasant, Wis. bar taking pictures with members of the Proud Boys, a fascist gang known for starting brawls. In one photo Rittenhouse is seen wearing a shirt that reads “free as f***” and holding up the “white power” hand sign, according to ABC 12.

Rittenhouse’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 10.

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