Kyle Rittenhouse tells detractors at Kent State to 'cope harder' while the attacker he showed mercy to seethes outside



Kyle Rittenhouse visited Kent State University in Ohio Tuesday to speak about the importance of the Second Amendment as part of a Turning Point USA lecture series.

As with his other recent appearances, Rittenhouse was once again met with apoplectic teens apparently convinced — perhaps because of the liberal media's various false reports — that he was a "murderer" and possibly even a racist, despite having been acquitted of all charges and shooting only white men.

Among the radical leftists who gathered outside the Kent Student Center to protest the event was an individual who personally helped Rittenhouse understand just how critical firearms are to self-defense in America.

Gaige Grosskreutz, who now goes by the name Paul Prediger, addressed the angry mob and made expressly clear that he has a chip on his shoulder extra to the scar on his forearm.

The one who got away

Grosskreutz was one of the men who swarmed Rittenhouse during a BLM riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 25, 2020. Whereas the domestic abuser with multiple convictions and the violent child molester who attacked the then-17-year-old Rittenhouse died for doing so, Grosskreutz was simply disarmed with a well-placed and merciful shot.

During Rittenhouse's murder trial, defense lawyer Corey Chirafisi asked Grosskreutz, "When you were standing three to five feet from [Rittenhouse] with your arms up in the air, he never fired, right?"

"Correct," answered Grosskreutz.

"It wasn't until you pointed your gun at him, advanced on him with your gun, now your hands down and pointed at him, that he fired, right?" said Chirafisi.

"Correct," said Grosskreutz.

— (@)

While ever keen to paint himself as an innocent victim, Grosskreutz was charged with a firearm offense prior to going after the minor with a gun in 2020.

According to the New York Post, Grosskreutz's lengthy criminal record also includes burglary, drunk driving, and a domestic incident. In 2010, he was apparently arrested and charged with smashing his grandmother in the face.

Grosskreutz tries again to stop Rittenhouse

The Ohio Student Association noted in a statement ahead of the protest that "Gaige Grosskreutz, surviving victim of the deadly massacre, alongside Kent students, will be hosting a press conference, followed by a teach-in, on campus to condemn Rittenhouse's status as a guest speaker and highlight the harm that his hateful and violent white supremacy inflicts on our campuses and communities."

Despite there being no indication Rittenhouse holds any racial prejudices, the OSA further claimed Rittenhouse's presence "embodies a deeply disturbing ideology of white supremacism."

On Tuesday, the OHA's guest of honor, Grosskreutz, indicated he was ending his silence.

"While I've simply tried to live my life and not relive those moments, Kyle Rittenhouse has taken a different path," said Grosskreutz.

In February 2023, Grosskreutz added Rittenhouse to the civil lawsuit he originally filed against the city and county of Kenosha along with local law enforcement officials. Rittenhouse has responded with a countersuit.

"He has used every moment to gloat and to make light of taking life," continued the leftist. "As if that were not enough, Kyle has embraced and been embraced by those who peddle hateful rhetoric, who believe in nationalism that excludes those who do not look like or think like them, and who have sought to amplify a troubling desire for violence against supposed political, cultural, and religious enemies."

Grosskreutz declared, "Enough of Kyle and his rhetoric, enough of the celebration of loss of human life, enough of the flawed logic because a 17-year-old who shot me and killed two others with an illegally obtained firearm, an illegally carried firearm is now somehow qualified to be a champion of gun rights."

#NOW Paul Prediger, Formerly Known As Gaige Grosskreutz, a man who was shot by Kyle Rittenhouse on August 25 2020 in Kenosha, speaks on Kent State University campus ahead of Kyle Rittenhouse speech tonight.
— (@)

Grosskreutz failed in this latest attempt to stop Rittenhouse, who then took questions for nearly 40 minutes.

"Thank God I'm still alive and here to share my story," Rittenhouse told the crowd. "Because they really wanted to kill me. And it makes a lot of these leftists upset that I'm coming to these universities to share my story. And all I can say to them is: 'Cope harder.'"

WYSO-FM reported that during his speech, Rittenhouse called for the Ohio legislature to implement "campus carry" laws to ensure that law-abiding students have the means to defend themselves against various threats.

"What happens if these Hamas Palestinian terrorists come to the U.S. and try to attack us?" said Rittenhouse. "Are we supposed to be left defenseless?"

Rittenhouse's support for the Constitution and the ability for Americans to defend themselves did not resonate with the mob outside, which chanted, "Murderer!"

#NOW "Murderer! Murderer!" protesters chant outside of Kyle Rittenhouse TPUSA speaking event at Kent State University in Ohio. Protesters flip attendees off ad they leave the event.
— (@)

Pat Millhoff, a Kent State alumnus who attended the university around the time the National Guard shot student supporters of the genocidal Red Khmers, told WYSO, "So, it's just appalling to me that they would bring this particular speaker to campus so close to May 4th."

"I just think it's glorifying him. So I agree with free speech, but I'm just not sure this was the appropriate time and place to have this young man here," added Millhoff.

Despite the apparent desire on campus to shut down the event, a spokeswoman for the university stated, "We cannot ban speech because it would go against a core value and because of well-established laws governing free speech on public university campuses."

When leaving the campus, Rittenhouse thanked the protesters, telling them, "You've been a wonderful crowd. Wonderful crowd! Thank you!"

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Rittenhouse defends himself again from leftist attacker Gaige Grosskreutz, this time with a countersuit



Kyle Rittenhouse shot three attackers who mobbed him during a BLM riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 25, 2020. He was cleared of all charges in 2021.

While he fatally dropped two of his attackers, domestic abuser with multiple convictions and a violent child molester, Rittenhouse merely disarmed the third attacker, Gaige Grosskreutz, with a well-placed shot to the arm.

In February, Grosskreutz — who advanced on the then-17-year-old with a loaded weapon — added Rittenhouse to the civil lawsuit he originally filed against the city and county of Kenosha along with local law enforcement officials.

Rittenhouse announced Saturday that he will be launching a countersuit against Grosskreutz for assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

\u201cToday I have filed a counter lawsuit against Mr. Grosskreutz-for assault and emotional distress we look forward to holding him accountable in court. \nYou can support me and help me with this lawsuit by donating at https://t.co/GHncGiUx5Z\u201d
— Kyle Rittenhouse (@Kyle Rittenhouse) 1681516912

"With the prayers, love, and support of countless Patriotic and freedom-loving Americans, Kyle beat the odds, won his freedom, and proved to a nation that justice is possible, even in the face of overwhelming political and societal pressures. Unfortunately, Kyle finds himself with his back up against a wall again," says Rittenhouse's GiveSendGo page, where he seeks to raise money both for his legal defense and offense.

The page suggests that recent efforts to penalize Rittenhouse for defending himself are "intended to degrade further the protections afforded to us under the Second Amendment of The United States Constitution and our God-give Right to Self Defense."

Gregg Re, investigative producer of "Tucker Carlson Tonight," replied "lmao" to the announcement on Twitter and provided a link to Grosskreutz's testimony at Rittenhouse's murder trial, where the leftist admitted to taking aim at Rittenhouse with his loaded handgun.

During Grosskreutz's cross-examination, defense lawyer Corey Chirafisi posed the question: "When you were standing three to five feet from [Rittenhouse] with your arms up in the air, he never fired, right?"

"Correct," responded Grosskreutz.

"It wasn't until you pointed your gun at him, advanced on him with your gun, now your hands down and pointed at him, that he fired, right?" said Chirafisi.

Grosskreutz again answered in the affirmative.

Rittenhouse trial: Key state witness admits he pointed a gun at Rittenhouse before he was shot youtu.be

Despite ostensibly admitting in court to being an aggressor in the incident, Grosskreutz, who was previously charged with a firearm offense, paints a different picture in his lawsuit.

The leftist's lawsuit alleges that Grosskreutz "approached with his hands in the air to try to ease the situation and stop the killing," reported Fox News Digital.

"Defendant Rittenhouse instead shot Mr. Grosskreutz in the bicep, leaving a gaping wound. Thankfully, Mr. Grosskreutz did not die that day," says the lawsuit. "But he must live with the physical and emotional wounds inflicted by Defendant Rittenhouse and the Defendants who deputized and enabled him. The conduct of the Defendants in this case directly caused Gaige Grosskreutz’s injury."
Upon being added to Grosskreutz's lawsuit, Rittenhouse deemed it an "attempt to drown anyone who legally and justifiably defends there [sic] lives from attackers in a mountain of legal debt. We can not let them win. If they can come after me they will come after you."
According to Rittenhouse's countersuit, obtained by the Kenosha County Eye, "Counter-Defendant Grosskreutz committed unlawful conduct by carrying a concealed weapon without a valid license; running up on Counter-Plaintiff Rittenhouse with his weapon drawn as Rittenhouse lay on the ground; feigning surrender; pointing a loaded pistol at Rittenhouse’s head; and moving in for the kill."
Contrary to Grosskreutz's claim of seeking to "ease the situation," the countersuit says, "By running up on Counter-Plaintiff Mr. Rittenhouse with his weapon drawn as Rittenhouse lay on the ground; feigning surrender; pointing a loaded pistol at Mr. Rittenhouse’s head; and moving in to for the kill; Counter-Defendant Grosskreutz placed Mr. Rittenhouse in a reasonable apprehension of imminent and harmful contact."
"Counter-Defendant Grosskreutz intended to place Mr. Rittenhouse in apprehension of imminent and harmful contact by attempting to execute him."

Rittenhouse is seeking compensation and consequential damages, including damages for emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other pain and suffering, as well as declaratory relief.

Rittenhouse, represented by Mark Richards and Natalie Wisco, demands a jury trial.

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CNN host asks key Rittenhouse trial witness to 'clarify his testimony.' But it doesn't go over well.



CNN anchor Anderson Cooper invited Gaige Grosskreutz, a key witness in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, to "clarify his testimony" this week after he seemingly contradicted himself during an interview on "Good Morning America."

What happened?

Cooper confronted Grosskreutz Thursday about his statements on "Good Morning America" that appeared to contradict his sworn testimony at the Rittenhouse trial on Monday.

Specifically, Grosskreutz testified under oath that Rittenhouse only fired on him when he "advanced" on Rittenhouse and pointed his handgun at the teenager. But on "Good Morning America," Grosskreutz claimed that he was not pointing his firearm at Rittenhouse when he was shot.

Cooper asked, "On 'Good Morning America' today, you said that you were absolutely not pointing your gun at Rittenhouse. Can you clarify that?"

In response, Grosskreutz once again seemingly contradicted his sworn testimony, saying the only way that he could have sustained the injury that he did is if his hands were up when he was shot.

Grosskreutz said:

Yes. Absolutely. First and foremost, that was a very tense situation, something that I've never been in before, just like having never been shot before. I think It's important to note, though, that specifically during [cross examination], if there is a skilled attorney, they're able to present questions to help support their narrative. That's their job, and with one of the exhibits that attorney Chirafisi had introduced, there is a photo of me with my gun pointed toward the defendant, either just after or right during he had shot me in my right arm.

It's important to note though that the physiology of my wound would be inconsistent with somebody being shot with their arm — and we'll say, the traditional way that you would point a gun at somebody or some thing — the only way that I could have sustained the injury that I have is if I have been shot with my arms up.

When asked by Cooper — who appeared confused by Grosskreutz's response — if he ever pointed his firearm at Rittenhouse, Grosskreutz played coy.

"I think that, again, in the still photos, it certainly looks like it, but never intentionally," Grosskreutz said. "You have to understand that following that gunshot, I had no use of my arm. I wasn't able to move anything in my right arm or on my right arm."

In an interview with CNN's @AndersonCooper, the lone survivor shot by Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Gaige Grosskreutz, attempts to clarify his testimony and comments on "Good Morning America" about whether he pointed a gun at Rittenhouse.pic.twitter.com/ZxmDibzAZx

— Anderson Cooper 360\u00b0 (@AC360) 1636686960

What was the response?

After the CNN interview aired, Grosskreutz was accused of committing perjury or lying on CNN.

"Gaige Grosskreutz should be charged with perjury. He can then either state he lied on the stand under oath or he lied on CNN," commentator Stephen Miller observed.

Kyle Rittenhouse Prosecutor’s Case: Rioting Good, Self-Defense Bad

The bulk of Thomas Binger's questioning of Rittenhouse on Wednesday assumed that unless a person has physically touched you, there is no reason to protect yourself with force that may prove deadly.

Media Desperately Whitewash Key Witness Who Blew Up Prosecutors’ Case Against Kyle Rittenhouse

An honest summary of Grosskreutz’s testimony would, at best, be something like: 'Key witness in Rittenhouse murder trial creates pitfalls for prosecutors.'

How Kyle Rittenhouse Prosecutors Destroyed Their Own Case With Their Own Star Witness

Prosecutors on Monday called for the testimony from their most important witness. It turns out he may have cost them everything.

Gaige Grosskreutz — whose bicep was 'vaporized' by Kyle Rittenhouse — testifies he pointed gun at Rittenhouse before defendant fired at him



Gaige Grosskreutz — the man Kyle Rittenhouse wounded during summer 2020 rioting in Kenosha, Wisconsin — testified on Monday that he pointed a gun at Rittenhouse before Rittenhouse fired at him, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

What are the details?

Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi got Grosskreutz to admit that several statements he made to police after the shooting included incorrect details or omitted others, the paper said.

One big apparent omission was that Grosskreutz pointed a gun at Rittenhouse before Rittenhouse fired on him, the Journal Sentinel reported, adding that Grosskreutz initially told police he dropped his gun at some point during the incident, never mentioning he pointed it at Rittenhouse.

Here's part of that testimony, during which Grosskreutz says Rittenhouse "vaporized" his bicep:

Rittenhouse shooting victim confronted with video showing him pointing gun at defendantyoutu.be

Grosskreutz was carrying concealed a Glock that night but also said Monday that his concealed carry permit was expired at the time, the paper said.

Also Grosskreutz told prosecutors earlier Monday he attended the protests as a medic and wasn't trying to be an active participant, but the Journal Sentinel said Grosskreutz admitted upon further questioning that he spoke at a rally hosted by the Peoples Revolution — a Milwaukee-based group that has protested against police violence — and made statements such as, "Long live the revolution."

Grosskreutz said he's not a member of the group but has "an affiliation" with it, the paper added.

Grosskreutz said he saw Rittenhouse "re-rack" his rifle

Grosskreutz also said his failure to tell police he pointed his gun at Rittenhouse wasn't intentional, the Journal Sentinel reported, noting that police interviewed him after surgery while he was still on pain medication and coming down from the traumatic events of the shooting.

Grosskreutz also testified he put his hands in the air after Rittenhouse shot Anthony Huber and then saw Rittenhouse "re-rack" his rifle, the paper said, after which he figured Rittenhouse wouldn't "accept [his] surrender" and then moved toward Rittenhouse.

He also testified that he wasn't "intentionally" pointing his gun at Rittenhouse, the Journal Sentinel said.

"I was never trying to kill the defendant. That was never something that I was trying to do. In that moment, I was trying to preserve my own life," Grosskreutz testified, according to the paper. "But doing so while also taking the life of another is not something that I'm capable or comfortable of doing. That goes against almost a lifelong ethical code that I've lived by in regards to medicine."

Anything else?

Grosskreutz also denied ever saying his "only regret was not killing the kid" and that he wanted to empty his "entire mag" into Rittenhouse — comments a former roommate attributed to Grosskruetz, the Journal Sentinel said.

Townhall senior writer Julio Rosas tweeted that the former roommate in question — Jacob Marshall — "was in the courtroom but is now gone after being served a subpoena" and that the judge said officials "need to find out where Marshall is." Rosas added that Marshall is scheduled to testify Wednesday, citing the defense.

Armed leftist badly wounded in Kenosha shooting allegedly regrets 'not killing the kid' accused of firing at him and 'emptying the entire mag'



An armed leftist who was part of a mob that chased down a rifle-toting male on a Kenosha street — and was badly wounded by close-range gunfire — allegedly told a friend he regrets "not killing the kid" accused of shooting him and "emptying the entire mag."

What are the details?

Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, was one of three people shot Tuesday night allegedly by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois resident who arrived in Wisconsin armed with what police said was a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style .223 rifle. Rittenhouse said in video interviews prior to the incident that he was in Kenosha to help protect property, keep the peace, and administer medical aid.

Tensions were high as rioters squared off with others who, like Rittenhouse, gathered in the city with rifles.

According to a probable cause narrative in the criminal complaint against Rittenhouse, at one point 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum confronted Rittenhouse — and the teen apparently didn't want anything to do with him and tried getting away. But Rosenbaum chased the 17-year-old and appeared to try to take Rittenhouse's gun away — after which the teen fatally shot his pursuer.

It should be noted that video recorded earlier allegedly caught Rosenbaum antagonizing the gun-carrying group, glaring at them, and daring them to "shoot me!"

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @Julio_Rosas11

He even uttered the N-word while black people stood feet away. (Content warning: Language, racial slurs):

Rioters are getting into confrontations with armed citizens who are out here to prevent looting and destruction to… https://t.co/waOikRHEn7
— Julio Rosas (@Julio Rosas)1598415475.0

After Rosenbaum was shot, a mob chased Rittenhouse down a street. One of the pursuers was Anthony Huber, who hit Rittenhouse with his skateboard and, police say, tried taking Rittenhouse's rifle away — at which point Rittenhouse fired a fatal shot at Huber's chest.

Also in the thick of the chase was Grosskreutz who was seen in video screenshots and photographs seeming to point a handgun at Rittenhouse:

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @bgonthescene

According the criminal complaint: "When the defendant shot Huber, Grosskreutz freezes and ducks and takes a step back. Grosskreutz puts his hands in the air. Grosskreutz then moves towards the defendant who aims his gun at Grosskreutz and shoots him, firing 1 shot. Grosskreutz was shot in the right arm. Grosskreutz appears to be holding a handgun in his right hand when he was shot."

Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Here's video of second and third shootings. (Content warning: Language):

(Warning, Graphic/Violent) A crowd chases a suspected shooter down in Kenosha. He trips and falls, then turns with… https://t.co/vxBAmOy0TK
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1598422068.0

Grosskreutz even was holding his handgun after a bullet took out a large chunk of his right arm:

Image source: Twitter

What allegedly happened afterward?

Grosskreutz survived the shooting but reportedly will require multiple surgeries on his arm.

Journalist Andy Ngo then happened upon a Facebook comment allegedly from Jacob Marshall, a friend of Grosskreutz. According to Marshall's alleged comment, Grosskreutz told him he wished he'd killed his shooter.

Image source: Twitter

The screenshot of the comment reads, "I just talked to Gaige Grosskreutz too" and "his only regret is not killing the kid and hesitating to pull the gun before emptying the entire mag into him." The alleged comment also reads that "the kid shot Gaige as he drew his weapon and Gaige retreated with his gun in hand."

Neither Grosskreutz nor Marshall on Friday immediately responded to TheBlaze's request for comment on what Grosskreutz allegedly said to Marshall.

But an Internet archive screenshot from Wednesday shows a Facebook post from Marshall taking issue with conclusions being drawn about Grosskreutz: "There's a narrative saying Gaige was chasing this kid with a gun...no. Gaige did try pulling his gun right after this, because clearly his life was in danger and then the kid shot him...but after being shot wasn't able to release his gun because of the muscle damage. So all these pictures and post[s] of how the kid did it in 'self defense' is bulls**t. If you don't agree we can personally meet up and talk 'self defense' policies cuz I'm over this bulls**t narrative that's being passed around that Gaige was attacking the shooter."

Grosskreutz is a member of a social justice group, the People's Revolution Movement of Milwaukee, and a friend of his told the Chicago Sun-Times that his "whole reason for being out here was to provide medical services to protesters in Kenosha, and when Gaige tried to detain [the active shooter], he got shot in the arm."