In a shocking turn of events, the charges against Ryan Londregan, the Minnesota state trooper accused of fatally shooting Ricky Cobb II during a routine traffic stop last July, have been dismissed.
The case, which had drawn significant public attention and controversy, dramatically shifted after new evidence emerged.
The Incident
Ricky Cobb II, a 33-year-old Black man, was pulled over on July 31, 2023, around 1:50 a.m. for a minor traffic violation — his taillights were out.
However, the stop escalated when troopers discovered Cobb was wanted for violating a protective order in a nearby county.
When they attempted to take him into custody, Cobb allegedly refused to exit his car and tried to drive away.
Bodycam footage shows a chaotic scene where one trooper tried to grab the steering wheel, and Londregan fired multiple shots at Cobb, who drove a short distance before striking a median and dying at the scene.
Legal Proceedings
Londregan, who is white, faced charges of second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree manslaughter.
He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The defense argued that Londregan acted in self-defense, claiming Cobb reached for the trooper’s firearm.
Additionally, a Minnesota State Patrol trainer testified that officers were not instructed to refrain from shooting into a moving vehicle, adding complexity to the case.
Dismissal of Charges
On Sunday night, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced that the charges against Londregan would be dismissed.
Prosecutors concluded they could no longer prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Londregan’s actions were unauthorized.
Moriarty expressed regret about the decision at a Monday morning press conference.
“Ricky Cobb should be alive today,” Moriarty stated. “And that makes our inability to move forward even more difficult for Mr. Cobb’s family and for our community. And for that, I’m deeply sorry.”
Reaction from Cobb’s Family and Legal Team
The dismissal has sparked outrage and disappointment, particularly from Cobb’s family and their civil rights attorneys, Bakari Sellers, Harry Daniels, and F. Clayton Tyler.
The attorneys criticized the county attorney’s office for succumbing to political pressure.
“Apparently, all you have to do to get away with murder is to bully the prosecutors enough and the charges will just go away,” they said in a statement. “The people don’t believe the excuses and neither do we.”
Londregan’s Defense and Public Response
Londregan’s attorney, Christopher Madel, sharply criticized Moriarty’s handling of the case.
He found her claim that the prosecution was unaware of the self-defense argument “absurd” and called for her resignation, especially after she compared Londregan’s supporters to “Jan. 6” rioters.
“I do take great offense to that,” Madel said. “These are people that supported a hero that was charged with murder. When did that become wrong?”
The Federal Lawsuit
Cobb’s family has filed a federal lawsuit against Londregan and another trooper involved in the stop, Brett Seide, who was not charged. The lawsuit accuses them of “unreasonable seizure” and “excessive use of force.”
During a press conference announcing the lawsuit, Olivia Stroh, the mother of Cobb’s 7-year-old son, emotionally described the trauma her son is experiencing.
“I just want to say that the pain that I felt from having to tell my son that the person he looks up to — the person who’s supposed to protect and serve – he shot his daddy,” Stroh said. “It’s horrifying to tell him that — he’s 7. And he doesn’t deserve this. Ricky doesn’t deserve this. His four other children don’t deserve this, and he absolutely needs justice.”
Cobb’s father, Ricky Cobb Jr., also shared his grief and struggle to remain strong for his family during a press conference in January.
“This is a hard one,” he said. “I will say to any father who has lost his child, this takes you to a different level of how to stand strong. I had to stand strong for my kids.”
Conclusion
The dismissal of charges against Ryan Londregan has left many questions unanswered and a community in mourning.
While the legal battle might have reached a standstill, the fight for justice for Ricky Cobb II continues, as his family and supporters vow to keep his memory alive and seek accountability.
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Source: ABC News
