Yesterday, a muzzle flash was pointed out in video by The New York Times, and it was the first shot to be fired. Meaning, it was fired prior to Kyle Rittenhouse pulled the trigger in apparent self-defense.
Now, the person who fired the shot has been found in one of the most-circulated videos this week dealing with the shootings and chaos that followed.
At 23:19, Rittenhouse is seen in this YouTube livestream. He’s being chased into a parking lot. While he is being pursued, an unknown gunman fires the first shot into the air.
At 23:19, Rittenhouse is seen in this YouTube livestream. He's being chased into a parking lot. While he is being pursued, an unknown gunman fires the first shot into the air. pic.twitter.com/BSD8rd6ARN
— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) August 27, 2020
We’ve seen that video time and time again, but didn’t notice the man pointing the gun into the air and firing.
We did, however discuss the muzzle flash that was captured on another video of the same time, from a different angle.
Now, we have a clearer idea of where that shooter was. And, it would seem that he was a part of the group that was chasing Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse turns toward the sound of the gunfire as another pursuer lunges toward him. He then fires four times with his assault rifle, and appears to shoot the man in the head.
Was Rittenhouse reacting to the gunshot from one of the people giving chase? Or was he simply reacting to the person who was closing in on him and wanted to do him harm?
Does the second shooter make a difference in any outcomes of this incident? Not likely, because he was still being chased by a man who was out for something, and a man who was extremely aggressive earlier in the night.
Knowing where that first shot came from, and the location of the person, is interesting if anything. Early on, I assumed that he was on the other side of the street, but as it turns out, he was much closer to the action. And possibly a part of it.
