Corey Durell Ruiz was killed by a Madison police officer during a struggle that sparked widespread protests and an independent investigation.
Corey Durell Ruiz was killed on Wednesday after a Madison police officer fired three shots at close range during an attempted arrest. The incident occurred in the Marquette section of the city when Ruiz, who was suspected of stealing bicycles, brandished a knife and injured an officer during a struggle. While a fourth officer attempted to use a stun gun, the officer who was injured by the knife fired the fatal shots. The shooting has sparked significant public outcry, leading to hundreds of rioters marching through downtown Madison to demand accountability. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced that the state's Division of Criminal Investigation will lead an independent inquiry to determine if the use of lethal force was justified. Because Madison does not currently require body cameras, the administration is using bystander footage to reconstruct the event. All officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Ruiz family, has called for a rigorous investigation into whether the officer used excessive force.