In a controversial and deeply emotional turn of events, the charges against Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan, who fatally shot Ricky Cobb II during a routine traffic stop last July, have been dismissed.
This decision, announced by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty on Sunday night, has sparked widespread outrage and disappointment among Cobb’s family and civil rights advocates.
Londregan, who is white, faced charges of second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree manslaughter.
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the case against him appeared strong until new evidence emerged that led to the dismissal.
Ryan Londregan Charges Dismissed
According to Moriarty, the dismissal came after Londregan’s defense presented critical new evidence.
Londregan claimed he shot Cobb after seeing him “reach for the trooper’s firearm.”
Additionally, a Minnesota State Patrol trainer testified that officers were never instructed to refrain from shooting into a moving vehicle.
This evidence, combined with other factors, led prosecutors to conclude they could no longer prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Londregan’s actions were unauthorized.
“Ricky Cobb should be alive today,” Moriarty said at a press conference Monday morning. “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.”
Outrage From Civil Rights Attorneys
The dismissal has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights attorneys representing the Cobb family.
Bakari Sellers, Harry Daniels, and F. Clayton Tyler issued a scathing statement accusing the county attorney’s office of 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,” the attorneys said. “The people don’t believe the excuses and neither do we.”
The Shooting Death Of Ricky Cobb II
The tragic incident occurred on July 31, 2023, around 1:50 a.m. Ricky Cobb II was pulled over because his taillights were out.
Upon stopping him, troopers learned he was wanted for violating a protective order in a nearby county and were instructed to take him into custody.
Bodycam footage shows the troopers attempting to detain Cobb, who allegedly refused to exit the car and tried to drive away.
Londregan then fired multiple shots at Cobb, who drove a short distance before crashing into a median and dying at the scene.
Attorney’s Defense & Call For Resignation
At a press conference on Monday, Londregan’s attorney, Christopher Madel, called Moriarty’s claim that her team did not have prior knowledge of the trooper’s allegation “absurd.”
He also demanded Moriarty’s resignation over her remarks comparing 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?”
Family’s Fight For Justice For Ricky Cobb II
Ricky Cobb II’s family remains steadfast in their pursuit of justice.
In April, they filed a federal lawsuit against Londregan and Minnesota State Trooper Brett Seide, accusing 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, expressed the deep trauma and heartbreak her family has endured.
“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 of Londregan. “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 spoke out, describing the immense difficulty of staying strong for his family.
“This is a hard one,” he said at a press conference in January. “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.”
“I have been really wrecked about this. They need to take accountability and stand. Be a man…and I’m going to be a woman and do what I’ve gotta do and make this right,” Nyra Fields-Miller, Cobb’s mother, said.
Fields-Miller said she thought there would be accountability.
“This is bull in so many ways and I’m hurt,” she said Monday.
A Community In Mourning
The dismissal of charges against Ryan Londregan has left many in the community feeling disheartened and seeking answers.
As the legal battles continue, Cobb’s family and their supporters remain determined to seek justice and accountability for Ricky Cobb II.
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Source: ABC News
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