A Madison police officer fatally shot a man after the man injured him with a knife during an arrest attempt, according to the city’s police chief. The incident, which occurred Wednesday, has circulated on social media through cellphone video footage.
The man, in his 30s, has not been publicly identified by the police. In a statement, Madison Police Chief John Patterson expressed condolences to the man’s family, acknowledging their loss. He emphasized that the circulating video is only one viewpoint and that other footage will be part of the investigation.
The shooting took place on a busy city street close to the state Capitol, surrounded by restaurants, bars, shops, and residences. The incident was captured on video, showing cars stopped at the intersection and bystanders watching the situation unfold.
In a connected backdrop, a 2015 incident on the same street involved a white officer shooting Tony Robinson, who was biracial, sparking large protests. The district attorney justified the officer’s actions in 2015, and the Robinson family later received a $3.35 million settlement from the city in 2017.
Details regarding the race of the officer and the man killed on Wednesday remain unconfirmed by police. However, local advocates assert the man killed was Black. Brandi Grayson, head of Urban Triage, highlighted the incident as an example of state violence impacting the Black community.
Protests emerged quickly near the scene, with participants voicing demands for justice. Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong joined the protesters, emphasizing the need to balance support for assemblies with minimizing unnecessary tensions.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, receiving briefings on the situation, called for transparency and accountability in the continuing investigation.
Police responded to calls reporting a person attempting to enter parked vehicles. The suspect fled on a bicycle, leading officers through backyards before the eventual confrontation on the street. A struggle ensued, during which the suspect brandished a knife, injuring an officer. Efforts to subdue him with a taser failed, leading to the officer, who was injured by the knife, firing his weapon. The suspect died later at the hospital.
Patterson described the knife as a significant fixed-blade weapon, increasing the risk during the confrontation. He noted that witness accounts would be an essential part of piecing together the incident.
While another officer was hurt in the incident, the cause of these injuries is unclear. The police chief stated that the injuries likely did not result from the knife attack. Remaining officers were unharmed.
All four officers involved are on administrative leave, following departmental protocol. The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation will handle the ongoing investigation.
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