Wisconsin DOJ identifies officer involved in Madison shooting

The Madison police officer who killed Corey Ruiz, 38, in July has been identified by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) as Keil Baitinger-Peterson. 

In a DOJ statement released Monday, Baitinger-Peterson is described as an officer with nearly 11 years of experience. The statement describes the events of July 22, when officers from the Madison Police Department responded to a call from the Marquette neighborhood where someone reported that a man was checking parked vehicles. 

The responding officers chased Ruiz, who fled from them on  a bicycle.  They caught up with him at the corner of Williamson and Baldwin streets, where they wrestled Ruiz to the ground in the middle of the street as bystanders captured video on their phones. 

Baitinger-Peterson can be seen on videos that were posted to social media firing several shots at Ruiz at close range.  Madison police officers do not wear  body cameras. The DOJ update reiterates statements made by Madison Police Chief John Patterson that Ruiz was carrying a knife — which was recovered from the scene — and injured Baitinger-Peterson before the officer fired. The DOJ statement also mentions that one other officer was injured, but it does not describe the nature of the injury. 

Both Baitinger-Peterson and the other unnamed officer were treated at a local hospital and released, the update states, adding that Ruiz was transported to a hospital and pronounced  dead. Bystander video shows an officer on the scene attempting medical aid immediately after the shooting, then ceasing. All four involved officers, including Baitinger-Peterson, have been placed on administrative leave.

The DOJ is leading the investigation into Ruiz’s killing, with support from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Sun Prairie Police Department. After the investigation is concluded, it will be turned over to Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, who  will decide whether or not to charge Baitinger-Peterson. Chief Patterson said that the incident is being handled as a criminal homicide investigation.

Just hours after the shooting, community members began to gather at the intersection where Ruiz was killed, where they constructed  a memorial and blocked off the streets. 

Last week the city and police agencies forcibly cleared the memorial site as  residents and city officials continue to grapple  with the fallout of Ruiz’s death.