MADISON, Wisconsin — The police officer who shot ex-con Corey Ruiz in Madison, Wisconsin after being knifed should be criminally charged, the attorney for the dead man’s family declared Friday.
Ben Crump, who has represented the family of George Floyd and Michael Brown, gave a fiery press conference, two days after the caught-on-camera police shooting.
“The way he shot him repeatedly? Yes,” Crump said at the press conference when asked if the officers should be charged.
Crump promised that “there will be no peace and business as usual in Madison, Wisconsin,” until the police are held accountable.
He spoke alongside the mother of Ruiz’s daughter, siblings and mother — who broke down in sobs at the podium as supporters chanted “Justice for Corey!”
“It’s the racist police background,” one supporter shouted from the crowd.
State investigators are already conducting a homicide investigation into Ruiz’s shooting, which occurred after officers tried to arrest him on suspicion of breaking into vehicles in a trendy neighborhood near the State Capitol.
A viral cell phone video shows one officer firing three shots as three other cops struggle with 38-year-old Ruiz.
Ruiz didn’t submit even after being tased, and he pulled a knife and injured one officer with it, Madison police Chief John Patterson previously revealed on Thursday.
That police press conference devolved into chaos after one protestor took over the podium for an angry rant about racism, corruption, and “Zionists.”
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
Ruiz was a homeless ex-con with history of drug abuse and a lengthy criminal record, including for assaulting cops, according to court records and friends who spoke to the Wisconsin State Journal.Crump insisted the video doesn’t prove Ruiz had a knife or injuried any officers.
“We’re looking hard to see where this alleged ‘cut’ happened,” Crump said at the press conference.
“You don’t see no officers cut!” one crowd memver ranted.
Ruiz’s two sisters, brother, and daughter also gave remarks.
“No justice, no peace!” the crowd called as Ruiz’s daughter Kah’liyah Aliomar spoke.
“No racist police!” the girl shouted back
