Full Breakdown
Madison Police Shooting on the Near-East Side Raises Questions About Use of Force
7/23/2026, 6:35:15 AM
Background & Context
The July 22 incident occurred in Madison’s Marquette neighborhood, the same area where a 2015 officer-involved shooting of 19-year-old Tony Robinson sparked citywide protests. That earlier case involved an unarmed Black teenager and resulted in no charges after the district attorney concluded the officer feared for his life.
Core Event
Around 1:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, Madison police responded to reports of a person “checking” parked cars. Officers found a man in his 30s who fled on a bicycle. At South Baldwin Street and Williamson Street the suspect was tackled, a struggle ensued, and he produced a large fixed-blade knife that injured one officer. Police deployed a Taser, which failed to subdue him. Approximately five seconds later the wounded officer fired three shots at the suspect’s head at point-blank range. The victim was pronounced dead at a hospital. Four officers were involved; two were injured, though the source of the second injury remains unclear. All officers were placed on administrative leave pending investigation.
Data & Statistics
- Officers involved: 4
- Officers injured: 2 (one by the knife, the other unspecified)
- Shots fired: 3, all to the head of the suspect
- Victim’s age: 30s (exact age not disclosed)
On-the-Ground Reports
Witnesses captured the confrontation on cell-phone video. Michael Doubek, a nearby resident, said the suspect had already been handcuffed and tased when an officer shouted “he has a knife,” followed by repeated “taser” commands, and then fired three close-range shots to the head.
Official Statements & Responses
Chief John Patterson expressed sympathy for the victim’s family and called the incident “traumatic.” The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the independent probe, and the Police Civilian Oversight Board will hold a press conference later in the evening.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Knife brandishing: Chief Patterson asserted the suspect produced a “large fixed-blade knife.” Witness Richard Hegwood claimed he “never saw a weapon.”
- Second officer injury: Patterson said the cause of the second officer’s injury is “not clear,” and no source has identified how it occurred.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is not a small folding knife,” — John Patterson, Madison Police Chief
- “It’s a large fixed blade knife that was there and present.” — John Patterson, Madison Police Chief
- “They catch the dude, they have him on the ground, he’s struggling, he’s struggling to get up, and that’s when they shot him, they shot him three times,” — Richard Hegwood, witness
- “One of the officers says he has a knife, after which one of the officers pulls a taser, yells ‘taser taser taser,’ tases him, then all three, all of them sort of all fall on the ground together, after which one of the cops stands up kind of on one knee and shoots him three times in the head point blank while he is on the ground.” — Michael Doubek, witness
What’s Next
The Division of Criminal Investigation will continue its inquiry, and all four officers remain on administrative leave per department policy. The Police Civilian Oversight Board’s upcoming press conference is expected to provide additional details as the investigation progresses.
