Rev. Al Sharpton delivers eulogy for Madison man killed by police
Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at the funeral of Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man shot by a Madison police officer, while the family’s attorneys said an independent autopsy will be released soon.
A funeral service for Corey Ruiz was held Friday at the Fountain of Life Covenant Church in Madison. Ruiz, 38, was fatally shot by city police officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson on July 22 during an attempted arrest that the Department of Justice says involved Ruiz pulling a knife and injuring the officer.
Civil-rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy, stating, "Corey matters," and urging non-violent resistance to violence and hate. Sharpton added that an interracial coalition of young activists had shown “more morality and courage than the people sitting up in City Hall.”
Four Madison officers remain on leave while the state Department of Justice continues its investigation. The Ruiz family’s legal team, which includes civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, announced plans to release the findings of an independent autopsy in the coming days.
Family members described Ruiz as a father, brother, and creative individual who struggled with mental-health issues and homelessness. His mother, Elsa Ruiz, said the system had failed him and that police officers who were meant to protect had taken his life. A sister, Veronica Ruiz, criticized city officials for not reaching out to the family and said Ruiz had been dehumanized in public narratives.
Protests and a makeshift memorial followed the shooting, with activists blocking streets and a city-wide concert. The encampment was cleared by authorities on Aug. 4, citing safety concerns. Sharpton said he attended after seeing by-stander video of the shooting, noting that “this could be my brother, this could be my nephew.”