Madison authorities have opened a homicide investigation after police shot 38-year-old Corey Ruiz during a confrontation in which officers say he produced a knife. The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Criminal Investigation Division is handling the probe because it involves law enforcement, and officials say the officer who fired will be publicly identified. None of the officers were wearing body cameras; bystander footage has circulated and protests followed. All officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while investigators gather additional evidence.
Madison Launches Homicide Probe After Police Shoot 38-Year-Old Corey Ruiz
[Reuters]
Madison, Wisconsin, officials have opened a homicide investigation after a police officer fatally shot 38-year-old Corey Ruiz during a confrontation that sparked protests and the circulation of bystander video.
Investigation Underway
Madison Police Chief John Patterson said the department will fully cooperate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Criminal Investigation Division, which is leading the probe because the case involves law enforcement. "We will not hide from any aspect of this investigation," Patterson said. He also said state investigators will identify the officer who fired the weapon.
What Authorities Say Happened
Police say officers were initially called to the neighborhood after reports of a person attempting to enter parked vehicles. Ruiz is reported to have fled on a bicycle before officers located him. According to police, four officers confronted Ruiz, who either fell from or was pulled off the bicycle and then produced a knife during a struggle.
An officer is said to have been injured during the scuffle. Officers deployed a taser, which Patterson described as unsuccessful. The injured officer then fired three shots; Ruiz later died at a hospital. All officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.
Family Reaction and Legal Representation
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump is representing the Ruiz family. At a news conference, Crump called the shooting "unnecessary, unjustified and unconstitutional" and noted the importance of bystander video. Standing beside Ruiz's mother, Elsa Ruiz, Crump acknowledged Ruiz's history of mental health and substance-use challenges but emphasized his humanity: "He may not have been perfect. But he was her son." Elsa Ruiz said, "I never thought I would have to bury my baby before they buried me." Ruiz's brother, Adam, described the death as "sickening" and said the family wants justice.
Evidence, Transparency and Community Response
None of the officers involved were wearing body-worn cameras at the time of the encounter, officials said. Chief Patterson cautioned that bystander footage offers "one perspective" and indicated additional perspectives may exist but are not yet public. Protesters interrupted a Thursday news conference, demanding transparency and questioning the handling of the case. The shooting occurred on the same street where, eleven years earlier, a white officer fatally shot Tony Robinson; no charges were filed in that case.
Next steps: The Wisconsin DOJ's Criminal Investigation Division will complete its independent probe of the incident; any further details, including the identity of the officer who fired, are expected to be released as the investigation advances.
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