MADISON — A Madison police officer fatally shot a man on Wednesday afternoon after the suspect reportedly produced a knife during a struggle with officers. The shooting at the intersection of South Baldwin Street and Williamson Street prompted protests and an independent investigation.

Police responded to calls regarding a person attempting to enter parked vehicles in the Marquette neighborhood around 1:00 p.m. The suspect fled the initial police contact on a bicycle through nearby backyards before officers re-encountered him at the intersection around 1:35 p.m.

Four police officers were involved in the incident. Madison Police Chief John Patterson stated the suspect either fell off his bicycle or was taken off by officers. During the struggle, the suspect produced a fixed-blade knife and injured one officer.

An officer deployed a Taser during the struggle, but it was ineffective. The officer who was injured by the knife fired three shots at the suspect. The suspect died later at a hospital from life-threatening injuries.

The deceased man was in his 30s. Police have not released the name of the deceased man or the race of the officer who fired the gun. Advocates for the Black community in Madison stated that the man killed was Black.

All four officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. The officer who fired the shots is a veteran of the police force. A second officer was injured during the incident, though it is unclear how. Two other officers involved in the incident were uninjured.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is leading an independent investigation into the shooting. Patterson said the agency will review all footage posted online or submitted directly to it. "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," he said.

He stated that the footage circulating online represents only one perspective of the incident. "My understanding is there are some witnesses that also saw this, so I think we gotta, as a community, recognize we don't have all the information right now, and we have to allow our investigators to piece things together and get as clear a picture as we can," he said. When asked if the shooting was an apparent case of excessive use of force, he said he couldn't determine that.

Protests occurred in Madison following the shooting. A crowd of hundreds of protesters converged on the scene Wednesday evening. Protesters chanted "Arrest the cops!" near the scene of the shooting and "No justice, no peace" during gatherings in Madison.

Hundreds of protesters marched downtown, interrupting the Concert on the Square. Protesters marched to the state Capitol to demand accountability.

Sabrina Madison, the city council president, said in a statement, "I expect a full, comprehensive, and transparent independent investigation into today’s shooting of a community member." District 6 Alder Davy Mayer said in a statement, "My priority is to make sure the community remains safe and that the public receives full details about what happened as soon as possible." Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement, "I understand the anger, grief, and fear people are feeling — because I am feeling that too." She added, "Any officer-involved shooting needs to be rigorously investigated, and this one will be." Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated on social media, "There must be transparency and accountability in any investigation moving forward." He also posted, "We will continue to keep the loved ones and family of the individual who was killed in our hearts and prayers."

Madison police officers do not wear body cameras. He said the police department does not have "any broad deployment of body cameras in Madison, unfortunately." He is pushing for body cameras to be included in the 2027 city budget. Police released a photo showing a knife on the ground. Police stated the suspect was also reported for stealing bicycles.

The shooting happened less than two miles from the state Capitol. The neighborhood where the shooting occurred is lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and residential homes.

A white police officer shot and killed Tony Robinson on the same street in 2015. The district attorney did not file charges against the police in the 2015 shooting of Tony Robinson, determining the officer had been justified. The family of Tony Robinson accepted a $3.35 million settlement from the city in 2017.