Instead, he'd be back in school like any other 18-year-old. Or in college, or working at his job. And he'd be hailed as a hero — as an American kid who took up arms on behalf of a desperate community, and took a stand against anarchy, mayhem, and wanton destruction of private property.

Today, though, Rittenhouse is on trial for his life in a Kenosha, Wisconsin, courtroom. He's charged with six crimes related to the events of August 25, 2020, the third night of a Black Lives Matter protest-turned-riot that had already wrecked the city and its downtown businesses.

Those crimes? First-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, and misdemeanor possession of a weapon by a person under age 18. Cumulatively, they're more than enough to put him away for life.