Sheboygan Prosecutors Clear Officer in Fatal Shooting of Man Armed With Sai Weapons
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — The Sheboygan County District Attorney’s Office has ruled that a police officer’s use of deadly force wasreasonable and legally justified in the fatal shooting of Kevan Ruffin Jr., concluding that no criminal charges will be filed against the officer involved in the July 2 incident.
The decision follows a detailed review of body-worn camera footage, surveillance video from nearby businesses, dispatch records, and physical evidence documenting a rapidly unfolding confrontation that began with a 911 call reporting a disturbance involving weapons in a residential area of the city.
Early-Morning Disturbance Sparks Police Response
At 5:50:32 a.m., the Sheboygan County Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a disturbance involving weapons near South 15th Street and Illinois Avenue. Surveillance video from a nearby business shows that shortly before police arrived, a confrontation had occurred between two individuals west of South 15th Street, between Illinois Avenue and Indiana Avenue.
The video depicts pushing between the two people before one individual ran toward a building. The other person — later identified as Kevan Ruffin Jr. — then walked eastbound down an alley while holding objects in both hands.
Officer Makes Initial Contact
At approximately 5:52 a.m., a Sheboygan Police Department squad car driven by Officer Pray arrived in the area, pulling up near a silver vehicle at the intersection ofIndiana Avenue and South 15th Street.
As the squad car traveled south on 15th Street, Ruffin began walking toward the officer from the opposite side of the road. Officer Pray’s body camera recorded him exiting his vehicle and attempting a calm verbal engagement.
“How you doin’, Ruffin?” the officer asked, followed by, “Are you fine this morning?” He then requested, “Can you just have a seat for me?”
Ruffin looked toward the officer but continued walking along the curb on the opposite side of the street. Officer Pray took a few steps in Ruffin’s direction, repeating the request for him to sit down.
Situation Escalates as Ruffin Advances
Surveillance video shows Officer Pray raising his hand and backing away as Ruffin increased his pace toward him. As Ruffin continued advancing, Officer Pray drew hisElectronic Control Device (ECD), commonly known as a taser, while retreating.
Body camera footage shows Ruffin moving more quickly toward the officer while mumbling words that were not clearly audible. Importantly, investigators confirmed Ruffin was holding aSai — a bladed martial arts weapon — in each hand. One Sai was pointed toward Officer Pray, while the other was pointed outward.
As Ruffin began to run toward the officer, Officer Pray deployed his taser and immediately sprinted away. Evidence at the scene confirmed the taser had been discharged.
Taser Ineffective as Officer Continues to Retreat
Despite the taser deployment, Ruffin continued charging at Officer Pray at a fast pace. The body camera shows the officer sprinting across the street while turning to see Ruffin still advancing, both Sai weapons visible in his hands.
Approximately five seconds after deploying the taser, Officer Pray drew his service weapon. Body camera audio captures the officer shouting a clear warning: “Step back, you will get shot.”
Ruffin did not stop.
Deadly Force Used as Threat Continues
Officer Pray continued moving backward while Ruffin closed the distance. The officer fired three rounds, but Ruffin continued running toward him with both weapons in hand. Officer Pray then firedthree additional rounds while retreating and fired one more shot as he turned back toward Ruffin.
Despite being struck, Ruffin continued moving toward the officer. A seventh round was fired before Ruffin finally collapsed to the ground.
Officer Pray immediately radioed dispatch, reporting, “Shots fired, shots fired,” and requested all available units.
Surveillance video corroborated the body camera footage, showing the officer running in a circular motion across the street as Ruffin pursued him. At5:53 a.m., the video shows Officer Pray discarding his taser and drawing his firearm as the confrontation intensified.
Emergency Response and Medical Aid
A second officer arrived on scene at approximately5:54 a.m. Both officers approached Ruffin shortly thereafter. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated in an attempt to save his life.
Despite these efforts, Kevan Ruffin Jr. was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Prosecutor’s Review Finds Use of Force Justified
In a written determination, the Sheboygan County District Attorney concluded that Officer Pray acted within the bounds of Wisconsin law governing use of deadly force. Prosecutors cited several key factors:
- Ruffin was armed with two bladed weapons
- He advanced and then charged at the officer
- A less-lethal taser was deployed and failed
- Officer Pray repeatedly retreated and issued verbal warnings
- Ruffin continued advancing despite warnings and gunfire
Under Wisconsin law, officers are permitted to use deadly force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others.
The district attorney concluded that Officer Pray’s belief that he faced an imminent threat was reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances.
Case Highlights Limits of De-escalation
While Officer Pray initially attempted verbal engagement and used a less-lethal option, investigators noted that the encounter evolved in seconds once Ruffin began running toward the officer with weapons drawn.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that retreat, taser deployment, and repeated warnings demonstrated attempts to avoid deadly force before it became unavoidable.
Community Impact and Transparency
The release of surveillance and body camera footage has drawn attention to the case, particularly regarding police responses to individuals experiencing potential mental health crises. Authorities did not comment on Ruffin’s mental health history, citing privacy considerations.
Officials stated that the comprehensive video evidence played a central role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the prosecutorial review.
Final Determination
With the district attorney’s ruling, the case is considered closed from a criminal liability standpoint. No charges will be filed against Officer Pray.
The Sheboygan Police Department has not announced any additional administrative actions, and no civil determinations have been disclosed.
The incident stands as a stark example of how quickly a police response can escalate from a disturbance call to a deadly confrontation — and the difficult, split-second decisions officers face when confronted with an armed individual who continues to advance despite warnings and less-lethal force.
