The Wisconsin Department of Justice confirmed Monday that the Madison Police Department officer injured by a gunshot during a confrontation outside of Mondays bar on State Street was shot by a fellow officer — not the suspect Katoine Richardson as was initially reported.
The officer responsible for inflicting the gunshot wound has since been identified by the DOJ as Madison Police Officer, Keith Brown. The wounded officer, whose name has not been released, has since been released from the hospital.
During the incident in question, Madison police officers confronted 19-year-old Richardson outside of Mondays bar on Oct. 10 for violating the 10 p.m. curfew imposed on him by the terms of his probation related to a different incident.
According to accounts provided by MPD, Richardson ran from officers as they were moving to arrest him and allegedly drew a handgun, at which point an officer physically struggled with Richardson before being non-fatally struck by a single bullet fired by Brown.
Following the initial incident, it was widely believed that Richardson was responsible for the injuries the officer sustained during the confrontation.The MPD announced that it was the “first time in over 20 years that a Madison Police officer has been shot in the line of duty.”
Prior to the DOJ releasing their findings Richardson’s attorney, Stanley Wood, publicly criticized the Madison police department for not revealing information that would have corrected initial impressions that Richardson was responsible for shooting the unnamed officer.
“The police department just didn’t give the information in total that should have been given out,” Woodard said. “I think they really muffed this. Why didn’t the police department personnel or those who are in supervisory positions … indicate that, ‘Wait a minute, we’re not saying this young man shot anyone, let alone one of our officers. We don’t have any proof of that.'”
During his arraignment this past Tuesday, Richardson was accused of possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent, resisting an officer, causing a soft tissue injury to the officer and carrying a concealed weapon. Richardson was additionally charged with three counts of felony bail jumping.
Richardson has entered a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor charges and his bond has been set at $15,000 for the felony charges. His next court date for a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2021.
