Wisconsin protester brands Madison as 'corrupt city' during anti-police tirade following deadly shooting - Fox News

What the report says

Fox News reported that a Madison, Wisconsin, police briefing was disrupted Thursday, July 23, after a protester took the microphone during officials’ update on the fatal police shooting of Corey Durell Ruiz, a 38-year-old homeless man. Police Chief John Patterson stepped aside during the interruption, and the protester denounced police and described Madison as corrupt, according to the report.

The briefing followed a July 22 encounter in which police said officers were responding to reports of bicycle theft and people checking vehicle doors. Authorities said Ruiz fled on a bicycle, was stopped after a pursuit through backyards, and a struggle followed in an intersection. Police said Ruiz had a fixed-blade knife and injured one officer; after Taser attempts failed, the injured officer fired. Ruiz was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Police said a second officer was also hurt, though the cause of that injury was unclear.

Fox, citing officials and the Associated Press, reported that four officers were involved in or witnessed the shooting and would be placed on administrative leave. Patterson said the department would cooperate with the state investigation. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said the case should be rigorously investigated, while Common Council President Sabrina Madison questioned why officers involved in fatal shootings are not taken into custody. Gov. Tony Evers also called for transparency and accountability.

The incident matters because it has intensified local scrutiny of police use of force in Madison, especially in a fatal encounter involving a homeless resident. Fox also reported that Ruiz had a lengthy criminal record, while city officials emphasized that a person’s past should not determine whether they survive a law enforcement encounter.