Police officer's fatal shooting of man with knife roils Madison, Wisconsin

By — Scott Bauer, Associated Press Scott Bauer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/police-officers-fatal-shooting-of-man-with-knife-roils-madison-wisconsin Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Police officer's fatal shooting of man with knife roils Madison, Wisconsin Nation Jul 23, 2026 5:25 PM EDT MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Protesters burst into a Thursday news conference about the police shooting of a homeless man in Madison, taking the microphone from the police chief and arguing with some attendees who said they wanted to hear more about the investigation. The group of roughly 20 protesters burst into the room at the Madison police station, shortly after Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Common Council President Sabrina Madison identified the man killed by police as Corey Ruiz, a homeless resident. WATCH: Police say Flock cameras help solve crimes, but critics call them an invasion of privacy Ruiz was shot and killed Wednesday after police said he resisted arrest and injured an officer with a knife. Police Chief John Patterson stepped away from the microphone when the protesters were shouting, and one man in the group took his spot at the podium. The event quickly devolved into a shouting match. One protester held a sign saying "Corrupt cops deserve to die too!!!" Moments earlier, the mayor said the shooting will be "rigorously investigated." "It does not matter who you are or what your past is, you should not lose your life as a result of an encounter with law enforcement," Satya Rhodes-Conway said. Madison, for her part, said "Corey could have been my brother because my brother is homeless and he often rides a bike." "He's a human being. He had a family. He has parents who loved him who brought him home, who cared for him," she said, adding that she's struggling to understand what she's seen in videos of the shooting that have circulated on social media. "My first thought is, when the officer's walking away, why isn't he walking away in cuffs," Madison said. "I'm angry, there's no way around it." Once the protesters quieted down, the chief resumed his presentation, promising his department's full cooperation with the state investigation. Police have released few details The shooting has roiled Wisconsin's capital city, with Gov. Tony Evers calling for "transparency and accountability" and Madison community members gathering Thursday at a growing memorial. None of the four officers who were detaining the man wore body cameras, but passersby recorded the confrontation on video, and accused the officers of overreacting. "I thought, 'Holy cow — what could have warranted that?' It looked to me like they had him under control," David Ortiz-Whittingham, who saw officers swarming and heard the gunshots, said Thursday. "Even now, knowing about the knife, did he have to die for it? Could this have been de-escalated without him losing his life?" The police chief