In a video shot around 10 p.m., Kyle Rittenhouse explained his purpose, saying, “People are getting inured, and our job is to protect this business, and part of my job is also to help people. If there’s somebody hurt, I’m running into harm’s way. That’s why I have my rifle, because I need to protect myself obviously. But I also have my med kit.”

At 11:30 p.m., video footage shows police offering Rittenhouse some water and telling him, “We appreciate you guys, we really do.” Fifteen minutes later, Rittenhouse was involved in an incident that resulted in him shooting three protestors, two of whom died. Arrested the next day, he has been charged with crimes that could land him in jail for the rest of his life.

Although much about what happened the night of August 25 remains unclear and needs to be fully contextualized, we’ve learned more about Rittenhouse in the days since. He’s been a supporter of the police for years. For his sixteenth birthday, he sought donations for a group that seeks to “forge stronger relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”