A Madison police officer on July 22 shot and killed a man during an attempted arrest, sparking protests in Wisconsin’s capital city.
Social media video of the shooting went viral, drawing criticism from many people online and some Wisconsin politicians, including state Rep. Francesca Hong.
Madison Police Chief John Patterson said there is no bodycam footage of the shooting as no frontline officers have body cameras.
Here’s what we know so far about the shooting.
What happened in Madison?
A Madison police officer on July 22 shot and killed a man armed with a knife while multiple officers attempted to restrain and arrest the man.
The shooting occurred around 1:35 p.m. at the intersection of Williamson and South Baldwin streets after authorities tried to take the man, who was suspected of stealing bicycles and attempting to enter unlocked cars, into custody.
When officers located the man, he fled on a bicycle, and officers later attempted to arrest him on Williamson Street. A struggled occurred there in the middle of the road.
The man drew a knife and injured one officer during the failed arrest attempt and the officer then shot and killed the man, Patterson said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Who was the man shot and killed by Madison police?
Officials have not publicly identified the man killed in the shooting.
Police said he was in his 30s but did not specify his age.
What do videos of the Madison police shooting show?
Videos of the attempted arrest and shooting, reviewed and verified by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, showed three officers struggling with the man. Officers can be heard yelling “he’s got a knife.” Another officer approaches and shouts “Taser” and attempts to use a stun gun on the man, who appears to fall over or is pulled down by an officer.
As the man is on the ground, one of the officers shoots the man three times and another officer briefly covers her mouth with her hand. Officers subsequently can be seen attempting to tend to the man.
How did Wisconsin politicians react to the shooting?
Hong, a lifelong Madison resident and a leading candidate in the Democratic primary field for governor, harshly criticized the shooting. She arrived at the scene of the shooting Wednesday evening standing among other people gathered there.
“I am horrified and devastated,” she said in a statement posted to social media. “This was an execution, and it never should have happened.”
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said in a statement he was horrified by reports of the shooting, which he likened to prior police shootings in Kenosha and Minneapolis.
“Each incident reopens deep wounds, raises difficult questions, and reminds us of the urgent work that remains to build trust, transparency, and accountability in our systems,” said Crowley, who is also running for governor.
Gov. Tony Evers called for protesters to remain peaceful and respectful.
“There must be transparency and accountability in any investigation moving forward,” Evers said in a post on X. “We will continue to keep the loved ones and family of the individual who was killed in our hearts and prayers. His life mattered.”
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement she was angered and saddened by the shooting.
“There is real pain in our city right now,” she said. “It’s an absolute tragedy when a member of our community is killed by anyone, but especially by the police.”
Have there been other high profile police shootings in Madison?
Yes. The July 22 shooting drew comparisons to the 2015 shooting of 19-year-old Tony Robinson Jr.
In that incident, a Madison police officer, who is White, shot and killed Robinson, a biracial man, on Williamson Street. It prompted large, peaceful protests throughout the city.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What we know, and don’t know, about the July 22 Madison police shooting
Reporting by Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
