( CNN ) For the second time in his career , Madison , Wisconsin , police Officer Matt Kenny is being investigated for using lethal force . But the cases and their circumstances are different , very different . Friday 's death of Tony Robinson , an unarmed biracial 19-year-old , has made Madison the latest epicenter of protests of black males killed by white officers . Eight years ago , it was a different story . Kenny shot and killed a man who pointed a pellet gun at him . He was exonerated of any wrongdoing and received a commendation . The dead man was white . It started as a 911 call . The caller reported a man with a gun on his front porch . What the dispatcher did n't know was the man that Ronald Brandon was talking about was himself . Three officers rushed to the scene , including Kenny . They knew they were facing a potentially life-threatening situation . They were unaware that Brandon 's ex-wife , Susan , was also calling 911 . `` My ex-husband is sitting outside and I think he just called 911 , '' she said . `` He 's got a pellet gun ... He 's drunk . '' As she talked to the dispatcher , the squad cars arrived outside . `` I think he called you because he wants to end his drunkenness , '' Brandon said . `` I hear the sirens coming . Jesus criminy . It 's not a real gun . I think he wants to be taken away . '' The officers never learned that the weapon Ronald Brandon pointed at them was a pellet gun . The call with that information came 40 seconds before they arrived . Kenny shot him dead . Investigators ruled the shooting a `` suicide by cop . '' For his handling of the incident , Kenny was awarded the medal of valor , the department 's highest honor . Last week 's shooting has n't earned commendations . It 's polarized a community . Because Robinson did not have a weapon , his death spurred memories of other unarmed black men killed by police : Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri . Eric Garner in Staten Island , New York . Over the weekend , protesters filled streets in Madison . On Monday , demonstrators packed the Wisconsin State Capitol . They chanted and carried a banner with a familiar message : `` Black lives matter . '' The incident started Friday night when authorities got a call that a black male was yelling and jumping in front of cars , Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said . When Kenny went to the apartment where the report came from , he heard some commotion and forced his way in , Koval said . `` Once inside the home the subject involved in this incident -- the same one allegedly out in traffic and that had battered someone -- assaulted my officer , '' Koval said . After that , according to the chief , `` The officer did draw his revolver and subsequently shot the subject . '' Kenny has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation . `` It 's a stressful period for him and his family , but he also understands that a family here has suffered a tragic loss and he understands that there has to be an investigation , '' said James Palmer , executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association . Under Wisconsin law , officer-involved shootings are investigated by an outside agency , in this case the Division of Criminal Investigation . Once the division completes its investigation , the report will go to the local district attorney , Koval said . Palmer declined to comment on the ongoing investigation , but said there are some circumstances when an unarmed person could still be seen as posing a deadly threat to a police officer . `` The real fear for any officer when he 's being attacked , generally speaking , is that their weapon will be taken away , '' Palmer said , `` and an unarmed individual can become armed very quickly . '' Concern is a word often used by the police chief as the investigation continues . Concern for his officer . Concern for the community . Kenny , 45 , is a 12-year veteran of the Madison Police Department . Koval calls him `` a very conscientious dedicated public servant , '' but acknowledges that a second shooting in eight-year 's time is , well , concerning . `` Any loss of life is very tragic , '' the chief said . `` Twice is concerning for anyone . We are concerned for him and the community . '' And the community is looking for its concerns to be addressed . CNN 's Gary Tuchman , Brian Todd , Catherine E. Shoichet and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report .
Officer Matt Kenny has involved in two fatal shootings during his career . He earned a commendation after the first in Eight years ago . His second is under investigation .