Police Shooting in Madison Sparks Outcry and Demands for Justice

Madison Officer Identified in Corey Ruiz Shooting

The officer involved in the fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man, has been identified as Kiel Baitinger-Peterson. With nearly 11 years in law enforcement, Baitinger-Peterson fired the shots that killed Ruiz on July 22. The incident has prompted protests and calls for racial justice in Madison.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, Ruiz was armed with a knife during the altercation. Baitinger-Peterson was one of four officers responding to reports of a person allegedly checking parked cars and attempting burglary. Despite attempts to subdue Ruiz with a Taser, the efforts were unsuccessful, leading to the shooting.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Ruiz’s family, described the shooting as an “execution” and demanded an independent investigation, along with criminal charges against the officer.

“Officer Baitinger-Peterson discharged his firearm, striking Mr. Ruiz,” the statement detailed.

Ruiz was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Both Baitinger-Peterson and another officer suffered injuries during the confrontation and received treatment at a hospital before being discharged.

Community Reaction and Police Response

Madison Police Chief John Patterson emphasized the importance of community engagement in addressing the concerns raised by the shooting. He promised ongoing communication with the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation and pledged to share information as available.

“The past weeks have been incredibly challenging for our community,” Patterson acknowledged. “We are committed to creating spaces for conversation and look forward to constructive dialogue with our community.”

Baitinger-Peterson’s Law Enforcement Experience

Officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson’s career with the Madison Police Department began in 2015. His roles included being a patrol officer and neighborhood police officer for Darbo-Worthington. Recently, he was part of the Gang and Neighborhood Crime Abatement Team before joining the Central District Community Police Team.

Patterson highlighted Baitinger-Peterson’s credentials as an instructor and noted that he has “no sustained use of force allegations” in his record and has not previously been involved in deadly force incidents.