Funeral held for Corey Ruiz, Black man killed by Madison police after knife struggle

Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man, was buried on Friday following his fatal shooting by Madison police on July 22. Authorities said officers responded to reports of bicycle theft and a vehicle check, and after Ruiz fled he drew a knife during a struggle, injuring an officer. Police attempted to use a Taser but were unable to subdue him before shooting.

The funeral was attended by civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Ruiz’s family, and Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy. Ruiz’s mother, Elsa Ruiz, spoke about her son’s homelessness and the impact of his death on his teenage daughter, who must walk past the site of the shooting each day.

Sharpton told reporters that he came to Wisconsin after seeing the bystander video of the incident, saying, "This could be my brother, this could be my nephew," and criticized the police response.

Madison police said the investigation is being handled by the Wisconsin Justice Department’s Division of Criminal Investigation, which will forward findings to the district attorney for any charging decisions. No arrests have been made.

Ruiz’s criminal record includes 40 convictions for misdemeanors and felonies dating from 2009 to 2025, and his ex-girlfriend noted he had mental-health challenges. His death follows other high-profile police shootings of Black men in Madison, including Tony Robinson in 2015 and Paul Heenan in 2012.