Deadly Wisconsin police shooting: A visual analysis
ABC News obtained, verified and synchronized three videos showing the shooting.
The fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz on Wednesday in Madison, Wisconsin, raises several questions about the use of force and conduct by Madison police officers during the incident, according to an expert and initial visual analysis of available imagery by ABC News.
ABC News obtained, verified and synchronized three videos showing the shooting.
The videos show a fatal confrontation that lasted just 28 seconds from the point Ruiz fell from a bicycle as he was being chased by officers in Madison until he was shot and killed, according to an ABC News analysis of verified imagery.
During a press conference after the shooting Wednesday, Madison Police Chief John Patterson said officers were responding to a call about a person checking parked vehicles when they confronted Ruiz and he fled on a bicycle.
Videos verified by ABC News show the moments after Ruiz fell from the bicycle at the intersection of S. Baldwin and Williamson Streets in Madison. Moments later, three officers are seen rushing to restrain him as he was on the ground.
After Ruiz fell from his bicycle, Patterson said, a struggle ensued between Ruiz and four responding officers and Ruiz allegedly pulled out a knife, injuring one officer. That officer fired the shots that killed Ruiz, he noted. A second officer was injured but it wasn't immediately clear how, according to Patterson.
The four officers involved are on administrative leave and a state investigation is probing the incident, Patterson said.
Videos verified by ABC News show that during the struggle with Ruiz, one officer shouted that he had a knife. Then, video shows the moment two officers attempted to immobilize Ruiz with what appear to be Tasers.
In one video, a knife can be seen in Ruiz's right hand.
Seven seconds after one officer warned about Ruiz's knife, another officer shot him three times at close range, based on an ABC News analysis.
ABC News contributor and former acting Department of Homeland Security undersecretary John Cohen reviewed the video and said that investigators would likely be seeking answers to several questions about the officers' decisions.
Cohen previously served as a police officer in Los Angeles and now teaches police tactics.
"These types of situations are highly dynamic," Cohen said. "Investigators will look frame by frame by frame. ... the flip side of that is that when you're in the middle of a fight like this and it's happening over the course of 12, 15 seconds, that's a very different decision-making process."
First, Cohen said, officials will likely review the decision by officers to forcibly restrain Ruiz the way they did rather than first ordering him to stop.
"Why did they not draw their weapon from a position of cover and order the individual -- who was no longer on the bike, who had fallen on the ground -- not to move?" Cohen asked.
Second, when one officer announced she was using a Taser, Cohen said, the other officers appear to not let go of Ruiz, which Cohen said would be expected in such a situation
"Why, when the officer said, 'Taser, Taser, Taser,' did the other officers not back off?" Cohen said.
On Wednesday, Patterson said that officers attempted to restrain Ruiz with a Taser but were unsuccessful.
It was not immediately clear to Cohen in his review of the video whether Ruiz was in a position to use a knife.
"The question is, even though he was on the ground, was he in a position to use that knife in a way to harm the officers?" Cohen said.
ABC News has reached out to the Madison Police Department for comment.
A breakdown of ABC News' analysis of the three available videos:
1:33:36 PM CT - Ruiz, as he is being chased by police officers, falls off his bike. Three officers rush to restrain him on the ground.
1:33:57 - A fourth officer runs to the scene of the scuffle and pulls out what appears to be a Taser. One of the officers can be heard saying, "He's got a knife!" multiple times.
1:34:01 - An officer yells "Taser, Taser, Taser." A second officer appears to pull out his Taser. We then hear two popping sounds as it appears both devices are used. It wasn't immediately clear whether one or both of the Tasers makes contact with Ruiz.
From one angle, a knife can be seen in Ruiz's hand.
1:34:02 - Ruiz, trying to stand up quickly, falls down; a knife is seen in his right hand in one frame. Holding Ruiz's arm is the officer who will eventually take the fatal shots.
1:34:03 - Ruiz is now on the ground as officers continue to try to detain him. One officer is seen stomping at his legs.
1:34:04 - An officer is seen and heard firing three shots. At this moment, it isn't clear whether Ruiz is still holding the knife.
1:34:17 - An officer secures the knife and puts it to the side of the body. The officer who shot Ruiz stands up and walks away.
1:36:06 - Officers begin CPR.
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