Madison police shooting of Corey Ruiz

On July 22, 2026, Madison police officers shot and killed 38‑year‑old Corey Durell Ruiz, a homeless Black/Latino man, after he produced a fixed‑blade knife while fleeing on a bicycle during a theft investigation. Bystander video showing three gunshots and Ruiz being restrained spread online, igniting city‑wide protests.

At a press conference, Ruiz’s family and civil‑rights attorney Ben Crump demanded immediate adoption of body‑cameras, noting that most Madison officers do not wear them. Demonstrators disrupted a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra concert and forced the cancellation or postponement of the AtwoodFest neighborhood festival and a new public market opening. The National Police Accountability Project condemned proposals to weaken Madison’s civilian oversight board.

Four officers were placed on administrative leave. The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation opened an independent homicide inquiry, the U.S. Justice Department launched its own probe, and mayor‑and state officials have opened additional investigations.

Ruiz’s family, through Crump, continues to press for the release of all video evidence and an independent criminal investigation, joining other families—such as that of Dalys Jett in Indianapolis—in calling for greater transparency and accountability in police use of force.