Madison police shooting of knife suspect draws protesters
Police say a Madison officer fatally shot a man after a struggle involving a knife; bystander video spread online and protesters gathered that evening.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
A Madison, Wisconsin, police officer fatally shot a man Wednesday afternoon after police say he produced a fixed-blade knife during an arrest attempt, injuring the officer who later fired.
Madison Police Chief John Patterson said officers were first sent to the city’s Marquette neighborhood around 1 p.m. after a report that someone was checking parked vehicles. According to Patterson, the person left the area on a bicycle, and officers encountered him again about 35 minutes later.
The encounter turned into a physical struggle in an intersection, Patterson said at a news conference. He said the man either came off the bicycle on his own or was removed from it by officers.
Patterson said that during the struggle, police were told the man pulled out or produced a fixed-blade knife. The department later released an image showing a knife on the ground as part of its public account of the incident.
The chief said officers used a stun gun, but it did not stop the struggle. According to Patterson, the officer hurt by the knife was the same officer who shot the man.
Bystander video spreads online
Videos recorded by people nearby circulated after the shooting. NBC News said it verified one video that appears to show officers holding the man while someone yells, “Let go!” The video also includes repeated shouts of “He’s got a knife!”
In that video, an officer appears to shout “Taser!” as the man is standing while officers hold him, according to NBC News. About three seconds later, with the man on the ground, a male officer standing above him appears to fire three shots. The man then stops moving.
Patterson said he had seen some recordings, but warned that the clips online do not show the entire encounter. He said other video that had not been posted publicly was being reviewed.
The shooting was not recorded on police body cameras, Patterson said. He said none of the officers involved had body cameras.
The man who was killed had not been publicly identified at the Wednesday news conference. Patterson described him as being in his 30s and offered condolences to his family.
The officer who fired was also not named. Patterson described him as a male veteran officer.
Protests follow the shooting
Madison Council Alder Davy Mayer, who represents the district where the shooting happened, said he had been speaking with city officials and police. Mayer said his priority was public safety and getting full details to residents as quickly as possible.
Four officers were at the scene, according to Patterson. He said all four would be placed on administrative leave, which he described as standard procedure after a police shooting.
Michael Doubek, who recorded one of the videos, told NBC News he was coming back from a co-op grocery store on Williamson Street when he saw police cruisers speeding past. Doubek said he saw officers struggling to hold the person down before one officer fired.
Doubek also said that after the shooting, he saw police move a knife aside while officers surrounded the person on the ground.
By Wednesday evening, protesters had gathered in Madison. Video from a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter showed a large group walking down a street. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra said a scheduled outdoor performance was canceled.
Police said the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation will conduct an independent investigation. The district attorney will also review the shooting.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.