Minnesota Trooper Who Fatally Shot Black Man During Traffic Stop Is Charged with Murder

“We want equality. We want justice. We're not asking for the world, we're just asking for what’s righteously ours," said the victim's brother

A Minnesota state trooper was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II, a 33-year-old Black man, at a routine traffic stop on July 31, 2023.

On Wednesday, Trooper Ryan Londregan, 27, was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter, per the Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty news release. The charges against the defendant follow the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation.

Cobb was initially pulled over because his vehicle did not have any taillights. Authorities then learned he had a felony-level violation, according to the criminal complaint, reports the Associated Press. The authorities attempted to detain Cobb. He then allegedly refused to exit his vehicle and removed his foot off the break. The troopers then tried to remove Cobbs, but in their attempt, the car drove off.

Londregan then shot his handgun and struck Cobb, per the Associated Press.

"This county attorney [Mary Moriarty] has provided sweetheart deals to murderers and kidnappers and now today she charges a hero," Londregan’s attorney, Chris Madel, said in a video statement. "This county attorney is literally out of control. Open season on law enforcement must end, and it's going to end with this case."

Madel filed papers seeking to have either the case dismissed or Moriarty removed from the case, reports the Associated Press.

Moriarty said Londregan’s use of deadly force against Cobb was not justified. She added that “a critical component of the work of the Minnesota State Patrol is engaging with drivers during motor vehicle stops." She explained that the defendant “did not follow this training."

Per Moriarty's statement, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is not seeking bail. The office asked the court to require Londregan to follow all conditions set by the court, including surrendering his passport and firearms.

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“We want to thank this district attorney’s office for bravery and courage,” the Cobb family’s attorney, Harry Daniels, said during a Thursday press conference with the family and their attorneys.

“In spite of the naysayers and the polarizing comments, because it shouldn’t matter if you wear a badge, shield, a star," said Daniels. "This is not a Black-and-White thing, no matter who wants to make it a Black-and-White thing. This is not a law enforcement versus citizen thing. This is a right versus wrong."

"I want justice for my son. I stand as solid as a rock," said the victim’s mother, Nyra Fields-Miller. "I thank everyone for standing with me and believing there is and there will be justice for Ricky Cobb II."

"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," the victim’s father, Ricky Cobb Sr., said during the press conference:

"Hopefully my son will get some rest peacefully behind this,” he added. “Because right now the family ain’t getting rest, not peaceful. We closing our eyes, but it's not peaceful."

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The deceased’s twin brother Rashad Cobb added, “We want equality. We want justice. We're not asking for the world, we're just asking for what’s righteously ours.”

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