# Madison police shooting of Corey Ruiz – encampment cleared > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20260725-madison-police-shooting-of-corey-ruiz > Updated: 2026-08-12T19:27:08.000Z. Sources: 121. Developments: 11. On July 22, 2026, Madison police shot and killed 38-year-old Corey Ruiz after a brief scuffle at the South Baldwin-Williamson intersection. The incident occurred after officers responded to reports of a potential burglary involving parked cars. Investigators report that Ruiz, who was on a bicycle, brandished a knife that injured an officer after two attempts to use a Taser were unsuccessful. The Wisconsin Department of Justice later identified Kiel Baitinger-Peterson as the officer who fatally shot Ruiz. Bystander video of the shooting prompted civil rights attorney Ben Crump to demand criminal charges and the release of all footage. Because Madison police do not wear body cameras, no official officer footage is available, reviving debate over a rejected $414,800 body-camera program. All four officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave, and the case was transferred to Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne. Protesters established the “Corey Ruiz Autonomous Zone” (CRAZ), using barricades of trash cans, pallets, and nails to block downtown traffic. While the city provided portable toilets and waste removal, the occupation caused business disruptions and was compared to the 2020 Seattle CHAZ. On August 3, the mayor ordered the encampment vacated; the following day, city and state police used bulldozers to dismantle the zone. In the aftermath, the nonprofit Freedom Inc. posted bail for more than 30 protesters. Legal experts, including University of Wisconsin professor Ion Meyn, have used the incident to highlight the need for enforceable use-of-force rules and concerns regarding informal police training networks. A funeral service for Ruiz is scheduled for August 14, with Reverend Al Sharpton expected to deliver the eulogy. ## Claims - Corey Ruiz, 38, was shot and killed by Madison police after brandishing a knife during a confrontation. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The shooting occurred at the intersection of Williamson Street and Baldwin Street in downtown Madison on July 22, 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Protesters have blockaded two downtown blocks, using trash cans, wooden pallets and nails to create barricades. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The City of Madison has provided portable toilets and used city‑owned salt trucks to help block the street. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Protesters have named the occupied area the “Corey Ruiz Autonomous Zone” (CRAZ). (corroborated by 3 sources) - The protest zone is being compared to Seattle’s 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). (corroborated by 2 sources) - Local businesses report reduced customer traffic due to the street closure. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-12: Madison police officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson identified in fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz A funeral for Corey Ruiz, killed by Madison police officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson during a July 22 encounter, will be held Friday. The Wisconsin DOJ is investigating the shooting as a homicide. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-police-officer-kiel-baitinger-peterson-identified-in-fatal-shooting-of-corey-ruiz ### 2026-08-10: Madison officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson identified in fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz Authorities have identified Madison police officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson as the officer who fatally shot Corey Ruiz, a Black man on a bicycle, sparking protests and a state investigation in Wisconsin. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-police-officer-identified-in-fatal-shooting-of-black-man ### 2026-08-06: Madison protests after Corey Ruiz shooting prompt mass bailouts and police‑training debate Freedom Inc. bailed out 30+ Madison protesters after the Corey Ruiz shooting, while a UW Law professor highlighted gaps in police training and calls for enforceable use‑of‑force rules. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-protests-after-corey-ruiz-shooting-prompt-mass-bailouts-and-policetraining-debate ### 2026-08-04: Madison clears autonomous zone after Corey Ruiz shooting Madison police and state troopers used bulldozers on Aug 4 to clear the autonomous zone set up after the fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz, ending the protest camp that had blocked traffic and impacted local life. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-clears-autonomous-zone-after-corey-ruiz-shooting ### 2026-08-03: Madison Mayor Calls for End to Encampment After Police Shooting of Corey Ruiz Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway urges protesters to leave the encampment set up after police shooting of Corey Ruiz, citing traffic, business harm and emergency delays; activists cite criminal‑justice demands 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-mayor-calls-for-end-to-encampment-after-police-shooting-of-corey-ruiz ### 2026-08-01: Madison Mayor Demands Barricades Removed from Corey Ruiz Memorial Madison mayor Satya Rhodes‑Conway urges removal of barricades at the Corey Ruiz memorial after the July 22 police shooting, citing safety concerns and an independent state investigation. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-protest-encampment-after-police-shooting-of-corey-ruiz ### 2026-07-29: Madison Police Shooting of Corey Ruiz Triggers Blockades and City Support Police shot and killed Corey Ruiz in Madison on July 22, prompting Black Lives Matter/Antifa protesters to block two downtown blocks, name the area CRAZ, and receive city‑provided toilets and barricade support. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-police-shooting-of-corey-ruiz-triggers-blockades-and-city-support ### 2026-07-27: Madison cancels summer events after police shooting of Corey Ruiz Madison canceled key summer events after police killed 38‑year‑old Corey Ruiz, sparking protests and an independent investigation that underscores a local debate over body‑worn cameras. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-cancels-summer-events-after-police-shooting-of-corey-ruiz ### 2026-07-25: Families of Corey Ruiz and Dalys Jett Call for Police Shooting Transparency Families of Corey Ruiz in Madison and Dalys Jett in Indianapolis demand independent investigations and release of police video after their deaths in police shootings. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/families-of-corey-ruiz-and-dalys-jett-call-for-police-shooting-transparency ### 2026-07-25: Madison Police Shooting of Corey Ruiz Leads to Protests, Cancellations Madison police killed Corey Ruiz after a knife struggle; his family and activists demand reforms as protests cancel major summer events. 27 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-police-shooting-triggers-cancellations-of-major-summer-events ### 2026-07-22: Madison Police Shooting of Corey Ruiz Sparks Protests and Calls for Investigation Madison police killed Corey Ruiz after he pulled a knife during a bicycle chase; the shooting sparked protests, demands for an independent probe, and debate over body‑camera policy. 88 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madison-police-officer-shoots-and-kills-man-after-knife-struggle --- Cite as: Madison police shooting of Corey Ruiz – encampment cleared. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20260725-madison-police-shooting-of-corey-ruiz