The top prosecutor in Minneapolis has decided to drop murder charges against a state trooper who fatally shot a motorist after a traffic stop, citing weak evidence as the reason for the turnaround. Trooper Ryan Londregan had been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Ricky Cobb II, a case that had ignited a political firestorm. The decision to dismiss the charges was difficult for the prosecutor, Mary Moriarty, who had faced backlash from both Democratic and Republican officials as well as law enforcement. The pushback against the charges reflected a shifting view on policing in the state following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent national outcry over racism and abuses by law enforcement.
Ricky Cobb II, a Black man, was killed last July after state troopers pulled him over for driving without working taillights on Interstate 94. During the stop, troopers determined that Cobb was subject to arrest over a suspected violation of a protective order. Body-camera footage showed Cobb questioning the request to get out of the car, leading to a struggle during which Trooper Londregan fired twice, striking Cobb in the torso. The vehicle continued to move for a quarter-mile before coming to a stop. Trooper Londregan claimed that he used deadly force to protect himself and his colleague from death or great bodily harm, as permitted under state law. Trooper Brett Seide, who was also involved in the incident, was not charged.
After reviewing the case with a team of former federal prosecutors, Mary Moriarty decided to drop the charges against Trooper Londregan. The trooper’s intention to testify that he feared Cobb was reaching for his gun, as well as a declaration from his trainer, were factors that led to the reversal. Moriarty emphasized that the decision should not be seen as an exoneration of Trooper Londregan. Charges of assault and manslaughter against the trooper were also dropped. While the decision was a relief for Londregan’s legal team, it left Cobb’s family deeply disappointed. The family had filed a lawsuit against both troopers in federal court, which is still pending. Trooper Londregan remains on paid leave while an investigation is conducted by the state patrol into the shooting.
The case of Ricky Cobb II’s killing raised concerns about police violence and accountability in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, leading to a debate over the handling of the charges against Trooper Londregan. Civil rights activists had praised the decision to charge the trooper as courageous, while Governor Tim Walz had expressed unease, considering using his legal authority to remove the case from Moriarty’s purview. The decision to drop the charges was seen as a setback by Cobb’s family, who felt that they were bullied into accepting the dismissal. Despite the decision not to proceed with the charges, Col. Christina Bogojevic, the head of the state police, recognized the loss felt by Cobb’s family and highlighted the difficult and dangerous work that troopers perform, noting that the use of force that resulted in Cobb’s death unfolded in a fraction of a second.
The dropping of murder charges against Trooper Londregan marked a significant development in a case that had divided public opinion and raised questions about police conduct and accountability. Mary Moriarty, the prosecutor who initially charged the trooper, faced criticism and backlash from various quarters, ultimately leading to a decision to dismiss the charges. The circumstances surrounding Ricky Cobb II’s killing, his family’s response to the decision, and the ongoing investigation into the incident have kept the case in the spotlight, highlighting the complexities of prosecuting cases of police violence and the challenges faced by prosecutors in pursuing justice in such cases. The aftermath of Cobb’s killing serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate over police reform and accountability in the state of Minnesota and beyond.
