Madison police officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson identified in fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz

A funeral service for Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man shot and killed by a Madison Police Department officer, is scheduled for Friday, August 14, at the Fountain of Life Church. Reverend Al Sharpton is expected to deliver the eulogy, and attorney Ben Crump will provide a ‘Call to Justice.’

The incident occurred on July 22, 2026, after officers responded to reports of a man checking car doors and stealing bicycles. According to Madison Police Chief John Patterson, officers encountered Ruiz at the intersection of Baldwin and Williamson, where a struggle ensued. Police stated that Ruiz pulled a knife and injured an officer. Following an attempt to use a taser, Officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson fired shots that killed Ruiz.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is currently investigating the shooting as a homicide. The four officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. Notably, the Madison Police Department does not utilize body-worn cameras, though Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has indicated plans to include funding for such equipment in the next budget.