Civil rights lawyer urges criminal charges for Madison officer who shot Corey Ruiz

A civil-rights attorney said the Madison police officer who fired the shots that killed 38-year-old Corey Ruiz should face criminal charges. Ben Crump made the statement at a news conference attended by Ruiz’s mother, siblings and his 13-year-old daughter, Kah’liyah Aliomar.

Police reported that Ruiz drew a knife during a struggle with four officers, injuring one officer, after which an officer fired multiple shots. All four officers were placed on administrative leave while a Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation probe and a city-run independent police monitor review the case. The officer who discharged the weapon has not been identified.

The shooting was captured on a cellphone video that spread widely online. Madison Police Chief John Patterson noted that the footage does not show the incident from the officers’ perspective, and the city does not currently require body-worn cameras. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway indicated that the upcoming budget may fund such cameras.

"Anytime there is excessive use of force, there should be accountability," Crump said, describing the shooting as an "execution."

Family members expressed grief and called for justice. Veronica Ruiz, the victim’s sister, asked for an explanation of the officers’ actions, while Kah’liyah Aliomar said she was heart-broken over her father’s death.

The incident has prompted protests and renewed calls for police reform in a neighborhood where three people have been killed by police since 2012.