MADISON, Wis. — A police shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Madison is currently under investigation as a homicide, officials confirmed Thursday amid mounting community tension and protests.
Police Chief John Patterson said during a news conference that the investigation remains open and active. The shooting victim was identified by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway as Corey Ruiz.
According to police reports, officers tried to apprehend a man on a bicycle who attempted to flee. During the struggle, the man allegedly pulled out a knife. A passerby captured portions of the encounter on video, which appeared to show that shots were fired after the man was already restrained on the ground.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is leading the review, under the supervision of State Attorney General Josh Kaul. The city’s independent police monitor, Aernimaje Glass, is also reviewing the case. Glass’s position was created alongside a police oversight board by the Madison City Council following local protests sparked by George Floyd’s death in 2020.
Glass said the police department has not released the name of the officer who fired the shots, and that she intends to issue a subpoena to obtain all evidence collected by the department—an action she described as unprecedented during her eight months in office. She accused city officials of impeding her ability to conduct a full review, stating, "I believe the [Madison Police Department] and the city is obstructing what the community and the public voted for."
Patterson affirmed his commitment to cooperating with the independent monitor but noted that state law mandates providing all investigation materials to the DCI, which takes precedence over local ordinances. He declined to identify the officer involved, noting that the individual has been with the department for 11 years. The officer and others present at the scene have been placed on paid administrative leave.
The news conference was disrupted by protesters who entered the room, interrupting Chief Patterson’s remarks with chants and demands for accountability. Participants displayed communist flags and signs containing messages such as "Corrupt cops deserve to die too!!!" The event became a site of vocal confrontation between officials and demonstrators.
At the shooting location, community members gathered to hold a vigil, marking the area as "scared ground" with flowers and signs calling for an end to police violence and affirming "Black Lives Matter." Approximately 30 people stayed overnight, reflecting ongoing concern among residents about law enforcement practices.
James Webster, one of the overnight vigilers, expressed anxiety about police use of force, saying, "I want my two daughters to grow up in a world where our first instinct isn’t shooting somebody — killing someone with that — for simply resisting arrest." He underscored the importance of better training and accountability in policing.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement and city officials work to respond to the shooting amid community calls for transparency and justice.