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Knife, Taser, shots
A Madison, Wisconsin police officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz after Ruiz pulled out a fixed-blade knife during a struggle with officers during an attempted arrest Wednesday afternoon at an intersection, and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation opened an independent investigation because it involved police officers.
“Wisconsin mayor calls for calm after deadly police shooting sparks protests The state will investigate the incident, which was filmed”
Madison Police Chief John Patterson said the officer who fired his weapon was a "veteran officer" and that officers deployed a Taser that was "unsuccessful," before the injured officer opened fire and Ruiz died at a hospital.
The shooting happened after officers responded to a call about someone allegedly checking parked vehicles and stealing bicycles in the city’s Marquette neighborhood, and police said Ruiz fled on a bicycle before officers encountered him again at South Baldwin and Williamson streets.
CBS News reported that in video reviewed by CBS News, an officer can be heard shouting, "He's got a knife!" as the Taser was deployed, and that police appeared to shoot Ruiz three times about two seconds after the Taser was deployed.
All four officers involved or witnessed the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, according to the reports.
Mayor, chief, protesters
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said she was "angered and saddened" by the deadly incident and told reporters, "There is real pain in our city right now," as protests erupted and a vigil was scheduled for Thursday evening.
Patterson urged calm and said the shooting occurred in a "neighborhood that has experienced a lot of trauma in the past," while also cautioning that multiple videos exist and investigators were reviewing all available evidence.
The Independent reported that protesters criticized the city and its police department and that Common Council President Sabrina Madison said she was seeking "justice for Corey" while calling for police reform and a swift investigation by state officials probing the shooting.
CNN reported that Rev. Marcus Allen, pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church, spoke at the news conference, saying, "The emotions that that young man just presented here, that’s how all of us are really feeling," as the confrontation continued to draw anger.
NBC News described the news conference as heated after Patterson was interrupted by two protesters for about 20 minutes, with one taking over the microphone to condemn police brutality and demand the officer responsible be jailed.
Investigation, accountability
Officials said the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation and will later share the name of the officer who fatally shot Ruiz, while Patterson said the Madison Police Department had called for a thorough and independent criminal investigation.
“A police officer in Madison, Wisconsin, shot and killed a man who had injured him with a knife while resisting arrest, the city's police chief said Wednesday”
WMTV 15 NEWS reported that Rhodes-Conway called for a rigorously investigated case including by the Dane County District Attorney’s Office, Independent Police Monitor’s Office and the Police Civilian Oversight Board, and said, "Our community deserves full transparency and accountability," as the process moved from evidence review to potential criminal charges.
AP News said cellphone video circulated on social media and that Patterson stressed the footage was just one perspective of what happened, while also noting that police posted a picture of the knife in a news release and that an officer deployed a taser that was unsuccessful.
The Washington Post reported that the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation opened an independent investigation and that police officers were dispatched to the Marquette neighborhood before the struggle in the intersection, with Patterson saying the injured officer was the one who discharged their firearm.
In the midst of the investigation, NBC News reported that none of the four officers who were detaining the man wore body cameras and that the state investigation is ongoing as Madison officials and residents continue to demand accountability and transparency.
