MADISON, Wis. — A Madison police officer shot and killed a man who had injured him with a knife while resisting arrest, Madison Police Chief John Patterson said Wednesday. The shooting occurred on a city street in a popular neighborhood lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and residential homes, located less than two miles from the state Capitol.
Shooting in Popular Neighborhood Sparks Outcry
Officer Injured, Fatal Shooting Follows Struggle
According to Chief Patterson, the incident began when police responded to calls regarding a person attempting to enter parked vehicles in the neighborhood. The suspect fled on a bike through nearby backyards in an attempt to evade officers before being contacted in the street. The suspect either fell off his bike or was taken off his bike by officers, and a struggle ensued. During this encounter, the man injured the officer with a knife, leading to the fatal shooting.
Viral Footage Sparks Debate Over Full Story
Cellphone video of the incident, which shows numerous cars stopped in the intersection with people watching as it unfolded, circulated on social media shortly after the shooting. Three gunshots can be heard on the cellphone video. Chief Patterson stressed at a news conference that the footage circulating online represents only one perspective of the event.
Chief Apologizes, Promises Full Investigation
I want to take a moment to honestly and sincerely offer my heartfelt sympathies to his family for this loss,
Patterson said. Regarding the viral footage, he added, “I ask the community to recognize that there is other video that they have not seen, that’s not circulating online, that will be reviewed as part of this investigation. So, to the extent that they can as we all navigate this trauma together, we try to remain calm and remember that not all perspectives are online right now.”
Advocates Condemn ‘Cruelty of State Violence’
Police have not released the name of the man killed, stating only that he was in his 30s. Similarly, the race of the officer who fired his weapon and the race of the man killed were not released by police. However, advocates for the Black community in Madison identified the man as Black.
Brandi Grayson, the head of Urban Triage, a Madison-based Black community advocacy group, expressed the frustration felt by many in the area. Another Black man is dead on a Madison street, and our community watched him die before we even knew his name,
Grayson said. That is the cruelty of state violence.
Following the shooting, a crowd formed near the scene, with people chanting, Arrest the cops!
2015 Shooting Resurfaces in Public Discourse
The incident has drawn comparisons to a past police shooting in the city. A white police officer shot and killed Tony Robinson, who was biracial, on the same street in 2015. That shooting spurred large protests; however, the district attorney did not file charges against the police in that case, determining the officer was justified in his actions.
Investigation Begins as Community Seeks Justice
Chief John Patterson spoke at the news conference on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to address the community’s concerns as the investigation into the latest fatality begins.