Thread by @sierragillespie

We're back.
Judge Schroeder: One of the jurors is inquiring about a pregnancy ... my inclination, unless there's an objection, is to excuse her.

The juror is excused upon her request.

Pressing update: Judge Schroeder has mentioned concern for missing his haircut appointment several times this week. He just confirmed he was able to get his hair cut!

Here's a look at the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse, today.

The prosecution's first witness today, Jason Lakowski, is on the stand. He was with Rittenhouse the night of August 25, 2020 prior to the shootings.

Lakowski says he thought Rittenhouse was 18-years-old when he met him. Binger asks why.
Lakowski: Because you have to be 18 in order to buy a firearm, a long gun in Wisconsin.

Binger: How would you describe [Joseph Rosenbaum]?
Lakowski: A babbling idiot.
B: Did you consider him a threat?
L: No.
B: Did you feel he posed any danger to you or anyone else?
L: No.

Binger: You said he was asking someone to shoot him?
Lakowski: Correct.
B: Was he saying that to you?
L: He said that to me and I believe multiple others.

(On Rosenbaum) Lakowski: How do I say this? He had been acting very belligerently. He had asked very bluntly to shoot him. He did a few what I would call "false stepping" which is making a step to entice someone to do something.

Binger asks Lakowski to reenact this so-called "false stepping."

Lakowski confirms he had a gun, knife and canister, filled with tear gas, on August 25, 2020.

(On Joseph Rosenbaum)
Lakowski: I didn't really see him as a threat to be honest to you. But it would be his false stepping and his banter, saying, 'shoot me, shoot me, explicit term.'
Binger: Did you interpret him saying 'Shoot me' as a threat to you?
Lakowski: No.

During all this, defendant Kyle Rittenhouse is taking notes at the defense's table.

Lakowski is now detailing multiple fires that he helped put out or block off on August 25, 2020.

Binger: You said this was after the incident. Which incident are you referring to?
Lakowski: The ... (hesitates) I don't want to ... the incident with Kyle.
B: The shootings?
L: Yes.

Binger: Do you remember hearing or observing those shootings?
Lakowski: I remember hearing gunfire, yes.

(Upon hearing the gunshots)
Binger: What did you do, if anything?
Lakowski: Ran toward them.

Binger: When the defendant spoke to you, he said he didn't shoot anyone?
Lakowski: Correct.
B: But he said he needed help?
L: Yes.
B: What did you tell him?
L: I told him to run to the police that were down the road ... At that point he started running. I followed him.

Lakowski says he blacked out, and the next thing he remembers is Gaige Grosskreutz.
L: I remember being on the sidewalk and then there was an individual on the ground screaming.

Lakowski says he stayed with Grosskreutz until police arrived. After that, he "backed off." Grosskreutz was then loaded into a vehicle. After that, Lakowski says he noticed someone say there was a gun on the ground nearby.

(After the shooting of Gaige Grosskreutz) Lakowski: I had picked up said firearm. I dropped the magazine and emptied the chamber.

Lakowski is now detailing what medical supplies Rittenhouse took from his bag following the incident.

Corey Chirafisi now begins the cross-examination for Kyle Rittenhouse's defense.

(The night of)
Chirafisi: You have an AR15 and medical pack with you?
Lakowski: Yes.
C: Same kind of situation that when you meet Mr. Rittenhouse he has?
L: To a sense.
C: But you had more than he did.

Chirafisi: Do you see him being aggressive toward anyone?
Lakowski: No.

Lakowski testifies he does not remember seeing the person in this photo, Joshua Ziminski. (The other is Joseph Rosenbaum)
Ziminski is the man who fired one shot in the air, that did not hit anyone, prior to the four shots Rittenhouse made that killed Rosenbaum.

Chirafisi: [Rosenbaum is] saying, 'Shoot me, n word! Shoot me, n word!'
Lakowsi: Yes.
C: To set the backdrop, he's saying this at a protest for an African American man who was shot by police?
L: Yes.

Lakowski testifies that Rosenbaum was one of the "most aggressive" people he saw on August 25, 2020.

We're now watching another video from the night of the shooting.
You can hear people yelling, "He just shot a man!"

Chirafisi: Mr. Rittenhouse said to you, 'I didn't shoot anybody, but I need help.'
Lakowski: Yes.
C: The statement that makes more sense is, 'I did shoot somebody, and I need help.'
L: Yes.

Chirafisi: How certain are you that in fact, he didn't say, "I did shoot someone and I need help," versus, "I did not shoot someone and need help"?
Lakowski: I don't honestly recall.

On why he didn't use his weapon that night.
Lakowski: There was no need for it.

We're now taking a break.