MADISON, Wis. — The fatal police shooting of a homeless man in Madison has sparked protests and heightened tensions in Wisconsin’s capital. Corey Durell Ruiz, 38, was shot and killed Wednesday after officers said he resisted arrest and injured one of them with a knife during an incident in the Marquette neighborhood, a bustling area less than two miles from the state Capitol.
The shooting occurred after police responded to calls about a man attempting to enter parked vehicles. Officers located Ruiz as he fled on a bicycle. Police Chief John Patterson said officers attempted to detain Ruiz using a Taser, which was unsuccessful, before the altercation escalated. Multiple bystander videos circulating on social media show a confrontation where Ruiz is subdued before three gunshots are heard, and he subsequently falls to the pavement. He was then handcuffed behind his back and remained motionless.
None of the four officers involved were wearing body cameras during the incident, though several bystanders captured footage. Some viewers of the videos accused the officers of overreacting, raising questions about the use of force and whether the situation could have been de-escalated. David Ortiz-Whittingham, who witnessed the event, said he believed Ruiz had been under control before the shooting and questioned if lethal force was necessary.
At a Thursday news conference, a group of approximately 20 protesters interrupted remarks by Police Chief Patterson, taking over the microphone and engaging in heated exchanges with other attendees. One protester carried a sign stating, “Corrupt cops deserve to die too!!!” The disruption underscored community frustration with the incident and the police response.
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Common Council President Sabrina Madison identified the deceased as Corey Ruiz, a homeless man with a lengthy history of legal issues, including charges related to theft, resisting arrest, and drug paraphernalia possession. The mayor emphasized that regardless of an individual’s background, no one should lose their life during a law enforcement encounter. “Corey could have been my brother,” Madison stated, referring to her own sibling’s experiences with homelessness and biking.
Governor Tony Evers called for transparency and accountability in the investigation, which is being conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation as mandated by state law. Chief Patterson confirmed the four officers involved, including the one who fired the shots, have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the independent inquiry.
Madison’s independent police monitor, Aeiramique Glass, expressed concerns about a lack of information sharing from the police department and urged officials to allow her office to review all evidence to determine if charges are warranted.
Police have cautioned against drawing conclusions based solely on available video footage, noting that none provide the officers’ perspectives and that additional, unreleased video is being examined. The shooting has inflamed debates within the community about policing, the treatment of homeless individuals, and accountability in officer-involved shootings, with ongoing calls for a thorough and transparent investigation.