Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced Friday that the police officer who fatally shot Corey Ruiz in Madison, Wisconsin, should be criminally charged. Crump, who has previously represented the families of George Floyd and Michael Brown, made the demand at a press conference two days after the shooting, which was captured on camera.
"The way he shot him repeatedly? Yes," Crump stated when asked if the officer should face charges. He further declared that "there will be no peace and business as usual in Madison, Wisconsin," until police are held accountable for the incident. Ruiz's daughter, siblings, and mother were present at the press conference, with his mother visibly distressed.
State investigators are currently conducting a homicide investigation into the shooting. According to Madison Police Chief John Patterson, officers attempted to arrest Ruiz on suspicion of breaking into vehicles in a neighborhood near the State Capitol. Police reported that Ruiz did not comply even after being tased and subsequently pulled a knife, injuring one officer.
The knife recovered by police from the scene was presented as evidence. The incident has sparked protests, with chants of "Justice for Corey!" and "No justice, no peace!" echoing at the press conference. Some supporters also voiced anger about racism and police conduct.
Ruiz, identified as a former inmate, was shot multiple times after the alleged confrontation with officers. The police department later released footage of the incident, showing an officer firing his weapon at Ruiz. A knife was recovered at the scene by authorities.
