A Minnesota county attorney has decided to drop the case against a state trooper accused of shooting and killing a black motorist, Ricky Cobb II.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the decision Sunday night.
“Ricky Cobb II would still be alive,” Moriarty said in a statement. “There are so many ways that Mr. Londregan could have handled the situation, and if he had, Ricky Cobb might still be alive today. But that is not the question we should be asking as prosecutors. The only question is, in light of this new evidence, can we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred? The answer is no, and I would be violating my ethical obligations if I continued to investigate this case.”
Officers stopped Cobb, 33, on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis on July 31 because his vehicle’s lights were out. They later learned the Spring Lake Park resident was wanted for violating a protection order in neighboring Ramsey County. After officers ordered him out of his vehicle, Cobb attempted to flee, leading Officer Ryan Londregan, 27, to shoot Cobb twice.
Minnesota police officer accused of shooting and killing motorist will be released without bail, judge rules
Officer Ryan Londregan walks with his wife for his first court appearance related to the killing of Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop at the Hennepin Public Safety Complex on Jan. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via The Associated Press, File)
Moriarty filed the notice to dismiss the charges after Londregan’s defense team revealed that they planned to testify at an April court hearing that officers believed Cobb was reaching for a firearm and that a Minnesota State Police trainee said officers never instructed them to refrain from firing at a moving vehicle.
The county prosecutor’s office said in a statement Sunday that the evidence made it impossible for prosecutors to prove that Londregan’s actions were not an authorized use of force by police officers.
Cobb’s family was outraged by the decision.
“No matter how many ridiculous excuses Officer Londregan tried to come up with to get away with it, he shot and killed Ricky Cobb II at close range without any justification, and instead of charging him with murder, the County Attorney’s Office bowed to political pressure and dropped the charges,” said a statement from the Cobb family’s attorney obtained by Fox News Digital. “Apparently, to get away with a murder charge, you just need to intimidate the prosecutor enough to get the charges dropped.”
“The state of Minnesota has repeatedly demonstrated that black lives have no regard for each other, whether it be Daunte Demetrius Wright, Philando Castile or Ricky Cobb II,” the statement added.
Minnesota police officer charged with murder after shooting and killing driver during traffic stop
Family members of Ricky Cobb II, a Black man who was shot and killed by a Minnesota state police officer, speak during a news conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center on Aug. 2, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Trisha Ahmed)
Londregan’s attorney, Chris Madell, said of the decision to drop the charges: Star Tribune“It’s about time. This will be my only official comment.”
Prosecutors and law enforcement experts reviewed video from the scene and found that Cobb had his hands in the air while Londregan’s partner was holding on to the passenger door. Cobb had a gun inside the car. Moriarty told the Star Tribune that there is still no evidence that Cobb tried to reach for the gun, but the defense’s testimony has prompted prosecutors to reexamine the evidence in a new light.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty discusses her decision to dismiss the case against Minnesota State Police Officer Ryan Londregan in the murder of Ricky Cobb II, during a press conference on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Hennepin County Prosecutor’s Office)
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Cobb’s family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in April, alleging the stop and shooting was unjustified.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
