Additional Coverage:
A man was fatally shot by police Wednesday afternoon in Madison, Wisconsin, during an altercation that began after officers responded to reports of someone checking vehicle doors in the Marquette neighborhood.
According to Madison Police Chief John Patterson, officers arrived at the scene around 1 p.m. following calls about a person inspecting parked cars. The individual fled on a bicycle but was later encountered by officers about 35 minutes later. During the subsequent encounter, the man either fell from the bicycle or was taken down by officers, leading to a physical struggle at an intersection.
Chief Patterson explained that during the struggle, the man produced a fixed-blade knife and injured an officer while police attempted to make an arrest. The department released a photo showing the knife lying on the ground near the scene.
Although officers deployed a stun gun, it was ineffective in subduing the individual. The same officer injured by the knife discharged his firearm.
Bystanders captured video footage of the incident, which circulated online. One verified video shows officers holding the man down as a voice yells, “Let go!”
and multiple voices warn, “He’s got a knife!” The video also includes an officer shouting “Taser!”
while the man remains standing, followed moments later by gunfire after the man is on the ground. The man then ceases movement.
Chief Patterson acknowledged having reviewed some of the videos but noted that other footage, not yet publicly released, is under review. He cautioned that the available videos provide only a limited perspective and do not encompass the full scope of what officers witnessed. Notably, no body camera footage exists for this incident, as none of the involved officers were equipped with body cameras.
The man who was killed has not been publicly identified but was described as being in his 30s. Chief Patterson extended his sincere condolences to the man’s family. The officer who fired the fatal shots, also unidentified, is described as a male veteran officer.
Four officers were present at the scene, all of whom have been placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure following police-involved shootings. Madison City Council Alder Davy Mayer, representing the district where the event occurred, emphasized the importance of community safety and transparency in sharing details as they become available.
Eyewitness Michael Doubek, who filmed one of the videos, said he noticed police cruisers rushing by while he was nearby. He observed officers struggling to restrain the man before the shooting occurred and saw a knife discarded near the individual afterward.
In the wake of the shooting, a large group of protesters gathered in Madison, prompting the cancellation of a planned outdoor performance by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.
Authorities have announced that the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation will conduct an independent inquiry, with the local district attorney reviewing the case.