Two Madison police officers fatally shot a suspect Wednesday morning at a gas station in the downtown area. The two officers, as well as one bystander, were injured in the conflict.
According to Mike Hanson, public information officer for the Madison Police Department, the officers were responding to a disturbance call at the BP gas station at 1130 Williamson St.
The suspect refused to cooperate with the officers' commands and attacked the officers with a weapon.
The suspect was shot and pronounced dead at the scene after officers attempted first aid. The identity of the suspect has not been released.
Officer Kip Kellogg was stabbed and remains in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other officer, Kirby Harless, was bitten and treated at the scene.
According to the police report, a 33-year-old male became an unintended victim during the incident. He was injured by gunfire and was taken to a local hospital and is expected to be released.\
The Madison Police Department is beginning an investigation into the shooting, which will involve eyewitness accounts, any video surveillance that may be available and accounts from survivors and officers.
""This is the third officer-involved shooting in the last three years,"" Hanson said. He also said Madison has a fairly low volume of officer-involved shootings.
Hanson said the environment of the neighborhood is not a significant factor in this incident.
""This is a transient, diverse neighborhood, but overall it is a safe place,"" Hanson said.
Jon Hain of Mother Fool's Coffeehouse, 1101 Williamson St., said he has never had any problems at his business or with the neighborhood. Mother's Fool Coffeehouse has been in the area for 11 years and Hain believes the neighborhood has gotten safer.
""To characterize it as a neighborhood being less safe or that there are more shootings in a neighborhood is really a mischaracterization,"" Hain said.
Brendon Smith, communications manager for the Willy Street Co-Op, 1221 Williamson St., expressed similar views of the neighborhood.
""Bad things happen every once in a while."" As for the co-op itself, Smith said they have only had minor issues and never anything too serious.
Hanson said these types of incidents are not limited to the downtown area. ""Crime can happen in any part of the city, from the high class neighborhoods to the more troubled areas,"" he said.
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