Tessa Quinn
Joseph Rosenbaum was shot in the head and killed by Kyle Rittenhouse during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, was accused of murdering Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, as well as attempting to murder Gaige Grosskreutz. Rosenbaum's fiancee, Kariann Swart, testified that Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital for mental health treatment after a suicide attempt on the day of his death.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Joseph D. Rosenbaum |
| Age | 36 |
| Date of Death | August 25, 2020 |
| Location of Death | Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| Hospital | Milwaukee Hospital |
| Reason for Hospitalization | Suicide Attempt |
| Mental Health Issues | Bipolar Disorder |
| Relationship Status | Engaged |
| Fiancée's Name | Kariann Swart |
| Children | 1 Daughter |
| Residence | Waco, Texas |
| Occupation | N/A |
| Protest Affiliation | Black Lives Matter |
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What You'll Learn
- Joseph Rosenbaum was shot and killed by Kyle Rittenhouse during the Kenosha protests
- Rosenbaum had been discharged from a hospital following a suicide attempt
- Rittenhouse was 17 and armed with an AR-15 style rifle when he shot Rosenbaum
- Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, testified that Rosenbaum had mental health issues
- Rittenhouse was charged with five felonies, including intentional and reckless homicide
Joseph Rosenbaum was shot and killed by Kyle Rittenhouse during the Kenosha protests
On August 25, 2020, Rosenbaum, aged 36, was among the protesters and was fatally shot by Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse is accused of murdering Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber as well as attempting to murder Gaige Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse's lawyers argue that he acted in self-defence, stating that Rosenbaum was a threat and had chased Rittenhouse. However, witnesses have described Rosenbaum as "belligerent but no threat", with one witness, a former Marine, calling Rosenbaum a "babbling idiot".
Rosenbaum had been discharged from a Milwaukee hospital on the day of his death, following a suicide attempt. He had been admitted for mental health treatment. Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, testified that he had been taking medication for bipolar disorder and depression but had not filled his prescriptions due to the unrest in the area. She also stated that Rosenbaum was originally from Texas and had moved to Kenosha to be closer to his daughter.
The shooting of Rosenbaum and the subsequent trial have brought attention to issues of racial injustice, mental health, and the role of armed civilians in protests. Rittenhouse has been charged with five felonies, including intentional and reckless homicide, and faces life in prison if convicted.
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Rosenbaum had been discharged from a hospital following a suicide attempt
Joseph Rosenbaum, a 36-year-old protester, was shot in the head and killed by Kyle Rittenhouse during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020. Rittenhouse, then 17, was a former police youth cadet who had travelled to Kenosha with an AR-style rifle and a medical kit, stating that he wanted to safeguard property from demonstrations that had broken out following the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha police officer.
Rittenhouse was accused of murdering Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, as well as attempting to murder Gaige Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse's lawyers argued that he acted in self-defence, portraying Rosenbaum as erratic, violent, and a threat to Rittenhouse's life. However, witnesses, including Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, testified that Rosenbaum was unarmed and had not hurt anyone that night. She also disclosed that Rosenbaum had been on medication for bipolar disorder and depression but had not been taking it due to the unrest in the area.
On the day of his death, Rosenbaum had been discharged from a Milwaukee hospital following a suicide attempt. He was dropped off in Downtown Kenosha and later made his way to the motel where he and Swart lived. He still had a plastic bag from the hospital, which he threw at Rittenhouse before he was shot. The bag contained toiletries, socks, hospital paperwork, and an empty plastic water bottle.
The jury in the Rittenhouse trial was informed of Rosenbaum's hospital discharge but not the reason for his admission.
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Rittenhouse was 17 and armed with an AR-15 style rifle when he shot Rosenbaum
Kyle Rittenhouse was 17 when he shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020. Rittenhouse was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and had joined a group of armed people who said they were in Kenosha to protect businesses from rioting and unrest following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer. Rittenhouse, who lived in Antioch, Illinois, had travelled to Kenosha to protect private property and help as a medic, according to his testimony. He said he brought the rifle to protect himself, even though he didn't think he would be in danger.
Rosenbaum, 36, was unarmed and had been released from a hospital earlier that day after a suicide attempt. He had been receiving treatment for mental health issues. Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, testified that he was on medication for bipolar disorder and depression. She said Rosenbaum had told her he would see her in the morning and said "I love you" before heading downtown.
Witnesses offered conflicting accounts of the encounter between Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum. Some testified that Rosenbaum was hyperaggressive and had threatened to kill Rittenhouse, while others said Rosenbaum had taunted them but did not consider him a threat. Rittenhouse testified that Rosenbaum had threatened to kill him twice and that he believed Rosenbaum was part of a mob chasing him. He said Rosenbaum ran at him, grabbed the barrel of his rifle, and that he then shot Rosenbaum four times at close range, killing him.
Rittenhouse was charged with shooting three men, two fatally, during the unrest in Kenosha. He was accused of first-degree intentional homicide but was found not guilty on five charges by a jury. He argued that he acted in self-defence, fearing his weapon would be taken away and used against him.
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Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, testified that Rosenbaum had mental health issues
Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, testified that Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital on the day of his death. He had been admitted to the hospital for mental health treatment after a suicide attempt.
Swart disclosed that Rosenbaum was on medication for bipolar disorder and depression but had not been taking his prescriptions because the local pharmacy was closed due to the unrest in Kenosha. She described Rosenbaum as "a very animated person" and said that they were both homeless when they met and lived together at a motel in the Kenosha area at the time of his death.
Swart also testified that, hours before he was killed, she told Rosenbaum not to go downtown because of the unrest. She recalled their last interaction: "When he left, he said that he would see me in the morning and he was all excited and 'I love you.' It was a pleasant visit."
After receiving a call from the medical examiner informing her of Rosenbaum's death, Swart said she fell to her knees and cried. She then found a video online showing him dying: "I broke down and I can’t get that image out of my head."
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Rittenhouse was charged with five felonies, including intentional and reckless homicide
Kyle Rittenhouse was charged with five felonies, including first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. The charges came after Rittenhouse shot three men, two fatally, during street protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020. The protests were in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, had gone to Kenosha with an AR-style rifle and a medical kit, stating that he wanted to safeguard property.
One of the men killed by Rittenhouse was Joseph Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital on the day of his death, following a suicide attempt. He had been admitted for mental health treatment. Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, testified that Rosenbaum had been dropped off in Downtown Kenosha and that she had told him not to go due to the unrest. She also stated that Rosenbaum threw a clear plastic hospital bag at Rittenhouse before the shooting, although she said it contained only toiletries.
Witnesses offered conflicting accounts of the encounter between Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum. Some described Rosenbaum as hyperaggressive and testified that he threatened to kill Rittenhouse and chased after him. Others, including a former Marine, Jason Lackowski, portrayed Rosenbaum as a "babbling idiot" who took steps to entice someone to shoot him. Rittenhouse himself testified that Rosenbaum charged at him and put his hand on the gun barrel, and that he used deadly force to stop the attack.
During the trial, prosecutors sought to portray Rittenhouse as a criminal gunman who instigated the bloodshed. However, Rittenhouse's lawyers argued that he acted in self-defense, fearing that his weapon would be taken and used against him. They also pointed to Rittenhouse's emotional testimony as a pivotal moment in the trial. Ultimately, a jury found Rittenhouse not guilty on all five felony charges.
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Frequently asked questions
Rosenbaum was in a hospital in Milwaukee, not Kenosha. He was released from the hospital on the day of his death.
Rosenbaum was in the hospital for mental health treatment after a suicide attempt.
Rosenbaum was dropped off in Downtown Kenosha. He was carrying a plastic bag from the hospital, which he threw at Rittenhouse before being shot.
Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, said that the bag contained toiletries, socks, hospital paperwork, and an empty plastic water bottle.
Rosenbaum died from a gunshot wound to the head.
