Wisconsin officer fatally shoots man during 'struggle' in incident captured on video

An officer fatally shot a man during what police referred to as a "struggle" in Madison, Wisconsin, with the deadly incident sparking some protests.

Madison Police Chief John Patterson referred to the deadly shooting, which occurred in the middle of an intersection Wednesday afternoon and was captured on video by several onlookers, as "very traumatic."

Officers were initially responding to a call of a person allegedly checking the doors of parked vehicles and stealing bicycles, police said. When they attempted to make contact with the suspect, he allegedly fled on a bike, Patterson said.

Officers later made contact with him on South Baldwin and Williamson streets, where a "physical struggle" ensued in the middle of the intersection, Patterson said. 

The man allegedly pulled out a fixed-blade knife, injuring an officer, Patterson said. A Taser was deployed but was "unsuccessful," Patterson said.

The injured officer then opened fire, the chief said. In video that captured the shooting, three shots can be heard, appearing to have been fired at close range as the man was on the ground.

Officers attempted life-saving measures, though the man, who was in his 30s, died at a hospital, Patterson said. Authorities have not released his name.

Four officers were involved in the incident, including the one opening fire, Patterson said. All four have been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation into the shooting by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the chief said. He described the officer who fired his weapon as a "veteran officer," though did not release additional information.

A second officer was also injured during the incident, though it's unclear if that was from the knife, Patterson said.

Police released a photo of the knife allegedly used in the incident.

The police chief said he is aware of cellphone video of the shooting that has been circulating online. He urged calm and asked the community to "remember that not all perspectives are online right now."

He said there is unreleased video that will be reviewed as part of the investigation into the shooting. None of the officers were wearing body cameras, though he noted that a squad car may have functional video.

A large crowd gathered at the scene of the shooting, blocking traffic, while calling for the cop involved in the shooting to be arrested.

Patterson said the shooting occurred in a "neighborhood that has experienced a lot of trauma in the past."

The incident occurred near where a Madison police officer shot and killed 19-year-old Tony Robinson in 2015, in what the local district attorney later determined to be a lawful use of deadly police force.