State officials released the name of the police officer who fired his gun at Corey Ruiz during a struggle with police on July 22.
MADISON (WKOW) — State officials released the name of the police officer who fired his gun at Corey Ruiz during a struggle with police on July 22.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation said Officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson shot Ruiz, who later died.
Madison police officers were called to the Marquette neighborhood that day for a report of a person involved in checking parked vehicles and an “alleged burglary attempt,” according to state investigators. Officers located and attempted to contact the person, identified as Ruiz, 38, of Madison. Police said Ruiz fled on a bicycle.
At about 1:35 p.m., contact was made by four responding officers with Ruiz at the intersection of South Baldwin and Williamson Streets. Ruiz either fell off or was taken off his bicycle by officers, according to MPD Chief John Patterson.
At that time, Ruiz became involved in a physical altercation with officers, during which he showed a fixed-blade knife and injured Officer Baitinger-Peterson, according to investigators.
Two other officers attempted to use a Taser on the subject without success.
Officer Baitinger-Peterson fired his weapon, striking Ruiz. Investigators said a knife was recovered from the scene.
EMS was contacted and life-saving measures were rendered on Ruiz, investigators said. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Baitinger-Peterson has 10 years and 10 months of law enforcement service. According to online information, he was hired by the city of Madison in February 2017.
27 News found an archived version of the Madison Police Department’s community policing teams webpage. As of July 9, that paged listed Baitinger-Peterson as a member of the Midtown, South and West Districts team. Hours after the shooting on July 22, Baitinger-Peterson’s name and photo had been removed, but the page still listed numerous other officers. As of August 10, all officers were wiped from the page.
One additional officer suffered injuries during the July 22 incident. Both injured officers were treated at a local hospital and have since been released. No other members of law enforcement or other members of the public were injured during the incident.
Videos posted online appear to show Ruiz going to the ground in a struggle with officers and what sounds like three gunshots being fired by Baitinger-Peterson from a standing position.
The four responding officers have been placed on administrative leave, per the agency’s policy.
In the aftermath of the shooting, demonstrators took to the streets of Madison to protest the use of deadly force in the case.
DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by a DCI Crime Response Specialist, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Sun Prairie Police Department.
Involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation.
DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over the investigative reports to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office when the investigation concludes.