Madison Police Shooting Remains Under Independent State Investigation

A fatal Madison police shooting remains under an independent investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice after a man died following a struggle with officers on the city’s near east side.

The shooting happened at about 1:34 p.m. July 22 near Williamson and South Baldwin streets. Madison police said officers had stopped the man after reports of bicycle theft and people checking vehicle doors.

According to the Madison Police Department, the man pulled a fixed-blade knife during a struggle and injured one officer. Officers attempted to use a Taser, but police said it did not subdue him. One officer then fired a weapon.

Four officers were involved in or witnessed the shooting, according to police. The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. All officers involved were placed on administrative leave.

Independent investigation continues

The Wisconsin DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation was assigned to conduct the independent review. The investigation is examining the circumstances of the encounter and the shooting, including the actions leading up to the use of deadly force.

Madison Police Chief John Patterson said in a July 24 update that the Wisconsin DOJ investigation was continuing. The department reported no substantive developments at that point, and the case remained open and active.

Madison police also said additional video was being reviewed. The public investigation has not released final findings or announced a charging decision. Those determinations are part of the legal and accountability questions that remain after the shooting.

The investigation has not publicly characterized the shooting as justified or unjustified. That distinction will depend on the independent review and any subsequent prosecutorial or administrative decisions.

Why the case matters in Madison

The shooting has become a broader public-safety and accountability issue in Madison. The Associated Press reported that the incident prompted protests, public pressure and changes to some Madison summertime events.

For residents near the intersection, the immediate event involved a deadly confrontation between multiple officers and a man who police said had been carrying a knife. For the city, the independent investigation will help establish the public account of what happened and whether any further action is warranted.

The administrative leave applies to all officers involved in or witnessing the shooting while the review proceeds. One officer fired the shot, while the other three were involved in or witnessed the encounter, according to Madison police.

The July 24 update did not provide a substantive development in the investigation. No final investigative findings, prosecutorial decision or administrative conclusion has been announced. The Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation remains responsible for the independent review, making its findings the next major public step in the case.