Wisconsin DOJ Identifies Madison Officer Who Fatally Shot Corey Ruiz After 28‑Second Confrontation

The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has named Madison Police Officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson as the officer who fired the shots that killed Corey Ruiz on July 22, 2026. Investigators say the encounter began after officers responded to a report of a person allegedly checking parked vehicles in Madison's Marquette neighborhood and lasted roughly 28 seconds from the moment Ruiz fell from a bicycle until he was shot.

What investigators and video show

According to the DCI, officers located the person described in the call and attempted to make contact; the person fled on a bicycle. Verified bystander footage obtained and synchronized by ABC News shows officers chasing Ruiz, him falling from the bicycle, and a brief physical struggle shortly thereafter. Officials say Ruiz produced a knife during that confrontation and wounded Officer Baitinger-Peterson. The footage shows the officer firing multiple shots at Ruiz from close range.

Michael Doubek - PHOTO: Corey Ruiz before he was shot and killed during an incident with police in Madison, Wis., July 22, 2026.

The DCI said two other officers attempted to deploy a stun gun before shots were fired, and a knife was recovered at the scene. Emergency medical services were called, life-saving measures were administered, and Ruiz was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Body cameras, officers' status and investigation

None of the responding officers were wearing body-worn cameras; the city of Madison confirmed that patrol officers generally do not wear body cameras (SWAT teams are an exception). Under Wisconsin law, the four officers who responded to the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave while the DCI reviews evidence and prepares a report for the Dane County District Attorney's Office.

Michael Doubek - PHOTO: An officer is seen and heard firing three shots at Corey Ruiz in Madison, Wis., July 22, 2026.

The Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA), which represents Officer Baitinger-Peterson, said the officer is a certified department instructor and had no prior deadly-force incidents. WPPA executive director Jim Palmer urged that the investigation be guided by evidence rather than isolated images or public pressure, and said Baitinger-Peterson and his family have received threats and are being protected.

Family reaction and local response

"People, whoever is saying, 'Oh, but he was a criminal.' So what? He had a family. He had me." — Kh'Liah Omar, Ruiz's 13-year-old daughter

Ruiz's family held a July press conference saying he had made mistakes in the past but was not a violent person. Protests at the shooting site subsequently grew into an encampment that blocked streets and access to nearby businesses; Madison officials said efforts to clear the intersection met with rock-throwing and small fires, and police made arrests after de-escalation attempts failed.

Next steps

The DCI said it is reviewing all available evidence, including synchronized bystander video and on-scene evidence, and will forward its findings to the Dane County District Attorney when the investigation concludes. The DCI’s review will determine whether the use of deadly force complied with state law and department policies.