Here & Now

Rev. Al Sharpton, Ben Crump Attend Corey Ruiz's Funeral

Zac Schultz:
The fatal shooting of 38-year-old Corey Ruiz by a Madison police officer also garnered national attention. This week the Wisconsin Department of Justice released the name of the officer, Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, who has more than ten years of experience, was injured by Ruiz with a knife before the officer opened fire. The investigation is ongoing and there was no information on whether the officer will be referred for charges. He remains on administrative leave. The funeral for Ruiz was held at the Fountain of Life Church today and was attended by his family, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and the Reverend Al Sharpton.

Elsa Ruiz:
He touched a lot of people in and out of the streets of Madison, city of Madison, and every single one is affected by the loss of my son. I am angered at the people that took him from me. They had no right. Though I have three beautiful grown children left to love and cherish, a piece of my heart has been torn from my chest. I love you, my first-born boy. You’re beautiful. You’re handsome. As you are now with the angels and not in pain, I leave you in the hands of God to watch over you.

Al Sharpton:
From the tape I saw, I don’t think that officer thought if they discharged their gun, that people would stand up. I don’t think the officer thought that people like Crump would come and help the legal team. I don’t think they thought people like me would come and do his funeral, but I want them to understand that we come in the name of someone that tell us, no matter who they are and what rank they are, we going to stop and stand up for justice for this young man Corey Ruiz because he could have been one of our children.