The family of Corey Ruiz has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump following the fatal shooting of Ruiz by a Madison police officer this week.
Ruiz, 38, died Wednesday after an encounter with officers near Baldwin and Williamson streets. Police said officers responded to reports of someone checking parked vehicles and stealing bicycles. When officers located Ruiz, he fled on a bicycle. A struggle followed, during which police said Ruiz produced a fixed-blade knife and used it to cut an officer.
Officers deployed a Taser without success, and the injured officer then fired his weapon, striking Ruiz multiple times. Ruiz was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading an independent probe of the shooting, which police have classified as an open homicide investigation. Per standard procedure, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.
Madison police officers do not wear body cameras since the city’s Common Council has repeatedly voted against funding them, most recently this past November.
Crump said bystander video shows Ruiz was tased and taken to the ground before being shot at close range.
“The video gives us a clear picture of what happened,” Crump said. “Corey Ruiz was tased, taken to the ground, and then he was shot multiple times at close range, including in his face. This case has to be examined for excessive force. It happened in broad daylight, in front of dozens of witnesses. The family deserves the truth, and the public deserves accountability.”
The family is seeking the release of all available video footage of the incident.
