The identity of the officer involved in the fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz, a Black man, has been released almost a month after the incident. Ruiz was shot while riding his bicycle by a Madison Police officer.
NBC News reports that the officer involved is Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, who has served with the Madison police for 11 years. The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation disclosed his name in a statement on Monday.
Baitinger-Peterson has not commented on the incident, but Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, expressed concern for the safety of Baitinger-Peterson and his family. “I urge everyone to allow the investigation to proceed and to refrain from prejudging the officers or placing them and their families at further risk,” Palmer stated.
On July 22, Baitinger-Peterson, along with three other officers, responded to a call about a person possibly attempting a robbery. They encountered Ruiz on a bicycle. According to the officers, attempts to tase Ruiz were unsuccessful, and Baitinger-Peterson shot him after Ruiz allegedly brandished a knife. Notably, Ruiz was reportedly unhoused at the time.
NBC News reports:
Baitinger-Peterson and the other three officers who interacted with Ruiz that day have been placed on paid administrative leave while the state investigates the shooting.
There is no timeline for when the state Justice Department investigation will conclude. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne will review the findings before deciding whether to file charges against Baitinger-Peterson.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Ruiz’s family, has called for the officer to be charged.
While bystanders captured the confrontation on video, there is no body camera video because Madison police officers don’t wear bodycams.
The incident has led to several nights of protests in Madison, which is not new to such events. Ruiz’s shooting occurred close to where Tony Robinson was similarly shot by police in 2015.
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Black Man Killed By Madison Cop Identified As Protests Around the City Continue To Intensify
