SWFL.io - Local NewsCarson Zorn
•9/1/2026
A Sarasota gun shop has hired Kyle Rittenhouse, whose controversial acquittal after he shot and killed two men and injured a third during a 2020 protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, made national headlines. According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Rittenhouse was introduced as an employee of Shark Coast Tactical on the store's podcast. The shop's owner, Will Meade, called Rittenhouse "illustrious" and a valuable addition to the team. On the podcast, Rittenhouse said he and his wife, Bella, recently moved to Sarasota after he accepted a job at the gun shop, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports. Rittenhouse said he has been working at the shop for over a month and enjoys the team's morale, as well as working in Sarasota. "This is my life now, and I love my life," Rittenhouse said. "I sell guns for a living. It's fun," according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Rittenhouse was 17 when he shot three men, killing two, with an AR-15-style rifle at an August 2020 protest in Kenosha. The protest occurred in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake during a summer of heightened attention on police violence against civilians across the country. Rittenhouse, an Illinois native, joined a group of armed men who claimed to be protecting businesses. In the fallout of the shooting, Rittenhouse faced charges of homicide and reckless endangerment, among others. His case went to trial in November 2021. A jury found Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges after he testified that he acted in self-defense. Rittenhouse wrote a book titled "Acquitted," following the trial. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reached out to Meade for comment, to which he replied, "I hired a kid who needed a job. He’s doing a great job and is a great employee." DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.