The gun used by Kyle Rittenhouse in the shooting of three men-two of which were fatally shot, during a 2020 protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, will be destroyed by the District Attorney.
State prosecutors, the defense, and the man who purchased the gun for the then-teenager agreed to allow the Kenosha Police Department and Kenosha Joint Services to destroy the AR-style rifle, the magazine, and the scope too, so that the weapon “will not be in anyone’s possession,” Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger stated at the hearing in Kenosha County circuit court Friday.
Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder, who presided over Rittenhouse’s high-profile trial, also approved of the parties’ agreement, ABC News reported.
The destruction is likely to happen in April at the state crime lab and will be recorded, Binger added.
The gun will remain secured at the Kenosha Police Department’s secure evidence bureau until that day comes.
The announcement comes after Rittenhouse’s attorney, Mark Richards, filed a motion in Jan. that requested the gun and other items be returned to Rittenhouse. His property was seized by Kenosha police after the shooting and entered into evidence.
The items requested included the Smith & Wesson M&P rifle, along with clothing, an iPhone, and a baseball cap.
Rittenhouse did not attend Friday’s hearing but he wanted the gun destroyed and personal items are thrown away because he didn’t want them used as a political symbol or to celebrate the shootings. On Friday, Richards told reporters after the hearing that they also didn’t want anyone to profit off the sale of the rifle, WISN reported.
During the hourlong hearing, Schroeder also ordered the return of Rittenhouse’s $2 million bail and was in favor of an agreement that would split the money between Richards’ law firm and the #Fightback Foundation.
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