'Kenosha Guard' militia organizer says he takes no responsibility for 2 shooting deaths
Former Kenosha Alderman Kevin Mathewson said he grabbed his AR-15 rifle and took to Facebook in response to the Jacob Blake police shooting protests
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Updated: 8:07 PM CST Feb 8, 2021
'Kenosha Guard' militia organizer says he takes no responsibility for 2 shooting deaths
Former Kenosha Alderman Kevin Mathewson said he grabbed his AR-15 rifle and took to Facebook in response to the Jacob Blake police shooting protests
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Updated: 8:07 PM CST Feb 8, 2021
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TWO PEOPLE. AS 12 NEWS’ HILLARY MINTZ REPORTS, MATTHEWSON TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED. REPORTER: CHAOS AND FIRES ERUPTED FOLLOWING THE JACOB BLAKE POLICE SHOOTING IN KENOSHA THIS SUMMER. >> I WATCH TO THOSE BUILDINGS BURN. IT UPSET ME. I SAW THE VIOLENCE BEGINNING TO ESCALATE. REPORTER: SO FORMER CITY ALDERMAN KEVIN MATTHEWSON GRABBED HIS AR-15. >> I WAS AT THE ENTRANCE TO MY SUBDIVISION. WE WERE ARMED. REPORTER: HE THEN MADE THIS KENOSHA GUARD FACEBOOK PAGE LOOKING FOR MORE HELP. >> SO YOU WANTED PEOPLE TO COME TO KENOSHA WITH THEIR GUNS? >> MY CALL TO ARMS WAS MEANT FOR US, KENOSHA RESIDENTS. REPORTER: BUT HE SAYS THE PAGE ATTRACTED INTEREST FROM ALL OVER. WITH COMMENTS LIKE I FULLY PLAN TO KILL LOOTERS AND RIOTERS TONIGHT. AND LATER THAT NIGHT. PROSECUTORS SAY 17-YEAR-OLD KYLE RITTENHOUSE FROM ILLINOIS SHOT 3 MEN, KILLING TWO OF THEM >> ISN’T MY FAULT HE WAS HERE? I DON’T THINK SO. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING, BUT I HAVE SEEN HIS ATTORNEYS DENY IT, I HAVE SEEN FACEBOOK TONIGHT. ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE, THERE IS NO LINK. REPORTER: DO YOU KNOW KYLE? >> NEVER MET HIM. REPORTER: DO YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW? >> NO I DON’T. REPORTER: BUT HIS CALL TO ARMS LANDED HIM IN TWO FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUITS, ALONG WITH THE PROUD BOYS, A GROUP LINKED TO WHITE SUPREMAC IS THAT WHAT THE KENOSHA GUARD PIS? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. I HAVE NO LINK TO ANY OF THOSE GROUPS. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHITE SUPREMACY. REPORTER: BOTH LAWSUITS WERE RECENTLY DISMISSED. >> I FELT UPSET PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES. I DON’T FEEL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. PATRICK: AS FOR KYLE RITTENHOUSE, PROSECUTORS WANT HIM ARRESTED AGAIN AND HIS BOND INCREASED $200,000. HE’LL BE BACK IN COURT THURSDAY FOR A JUDGE TO RULE ON THAT REQUEST. PROSECUTORS SAY RITTENHOUSE VIOLATED HIS BOND CONDITIONS BY GIVING THE COURT AN ADDRESS IN ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS, WHERE HE NO LONGER LIVES. RITTENHOUSE’S DEFENSE TEAM SAYS THE TEENAGER IS STAYING AT A SAFE HOUSE BECAUSE OF DEATH THREATS, AND WANTS HIS LOCATION KEPT SEC