Key facts
- Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, a white officer with nearly 11 years of experience, has been identified as the officer who fatally shot Corey Ruiz.
- Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man, was shot and killed on July 22.
- The shooting occurred when officers responded to calls about someone checking parked cars and an alleged burglary attempt.
- Ruiz brandished a knife and injured Officer Baitinger-Peterson during the encounter.
- The incident has led to protests and calls for racial justice reform in Madison.
- The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating the shooting.
Investigators have identified Kiel Baitinger-Peterson as the Madison police officer who fatally shot 38-year-old Corey Ruiz on July 22. Ruiz, a Black man, was on a bike when officers surrounded him in response to calls about suspicious activity. The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation stated that two officers attempted to use a Taser on Ruiz, but it was unsuccessful. Ruiz then allegedly brandished a knife and injured Baitinger-Peterson, who subsequently fired the fatal shots.
The shooting has ignited protests and calls for racial justice reform in Madison. Baitinger-Peterson and the three other officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the state investigation. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Ruiz's family, has called for charges against Baitinger-Peterson.
Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, expressed concern for the safety and privacy of the officers involved following the public identification of Baitinger-Peterson. He urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed without prejudgment. It was noted that Madison police officers do not wear body cameras, meaning no body camera footage of the incident exists.