Authorities have identified the Madison police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man, in July. Officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, a white officer with nearly 11 years of experience, was responsible for the shooting on July 22. The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation released this information in a statement.
The incident has led to protests and demands for transparency and accountability, emphasizing the need for Madison to address racial justice concerns. Although bystander videos of the shooting exist, there is no body camera footage available as Madison police officers do not use them.
“The shooting was an execution,” said civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Ruiz’s family. He has called for an independent investigation and criminal charges against the officer.
Baitinger-Peterson was among four officers who confronted Ruiz, who was on a bicycle. The encounter responded to reports of someone allegedly inspecting parked cars and a burglary attempt. During the altercation, Ruiz reportedly brandished a knife and injured Baitinger-Peterson. Two officers attempted to subdue Ruiz with Tasers but were unsuccessful.
“Officer Baitinger-Peterson discharged his firearm, striking Mr. Ruiz,” the statement confirmed. Ruiz was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Baitinger-Peterson and another officer also sustained injuries during the incident. However, details regarding the extent of these injuries remain undisclosed, though both officers have since been discharged from the hospital. Police recovered a fixed-blade knife from the scene.
Madison Police Chief John Patterson expressed his ongoing communication with the state Justice Department’s Division of Criminal Investigation. He emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating, “The past weeks have been incredibly challenging for our community. We want to engage with and listen to our community more, but we realize that time and intentional planning are needed.” Patterson is committed to creating spaces for future conversations with the community.
Baitinger-Peterson’s Law Enforcement Career
Baitinger-Peterson joined the Madison Police Department in 2015 as a patrol officer until 2022. He served as a neighborhood police officer in the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood for a year. In 2023, until February, he was part of the department’s Gang and Neighborhood Crime Abatement Team. He later joined the Central District Community Police Team.
Baitinger-Peterson is a certified instructor and teaches various topics within the department. Chief Patterson noted that Baitinger-Peterson has no sustained use of force allegations in his career and has not been involved in prior deadly force incidents.
This is a developing story and more information will follow as it becomes available.
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