The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation said Monday that Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, an officer with nearly 11 years’ experience, is the Madison police officer that shot and killed 38-year-old Corey Ruiz on July 22, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Baitinger-Peterson was one of four officers who attempted to arrest Ruiz when the fatal shooting occurred at the intersection of Baldwin and Williamson streets on Madison’s east side.
Onlookers captured the confrontation on video, sparking days of protest at the shooting site in the Marquette neighborhood.
Police had responded to calls about someone who was checking out parked cars, police said.
Baitinger-Peterson and the other three officers who interacted with Ruiz have been placed on paid administrative leave while the state justice department investigates the shooting.
Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, said he had concerns about the officer’s safety now that he has been identified.
“I urge everyone to allow the investigation to proceed and to refrain from prejudging the officers or placing them and their families at further risk,” Palmer said.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Ruiz’s family, has called for the officer to be charged.
