Minneapolis, Minnesota – Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has announced the dismissal of charges against State Trooper Ryan Londregan in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II last summer. The decision came after defense lawyers presented new evidence that complicated the state’s ability to prove Londregan’s actions were not an authorized use of force by a peace officer.
During an open court hearing on April 29, the defense unveiled details of Londregan’s testimony, stating that he observed Cobb reaching for a trooper’s firearm just before firing shots that resulted in Cobb’s death. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office also revealed that an MSP trainer confirmed he never instructed officers to abstain from shooting into a moving vehicle during an extraction, despite it being considered best practice.
Following these revelations, the prosecution team sought advice from a use-of-force expert and reassessed their ability to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that deadly force was unjustified. Ultimately, Moriarty, along with the prosecutors on the case, concluded that the state could no longer meet its burden of proof, leading to the dismissal of the case.
In response to the decision, Minnesota Republicans Michelle Fischbach, Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber, and Brad Finstad released a statement expressing their support for Trooper Londregan, contending that he acted rightfully in using force to protect his fellow officer. They also criticized Moriarty for what they viewed as a wrongful charging of Londregan and emphasized their commitment to safeguarding law enforcement from individuals like her.
Londregan had been facing charges of unintentional homicide, manslaughter, and assault in connection to the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II, who was shot while attempting to flee a traffic stop on I-94 last year. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office will hold a press conference on Monday at 8 a.m. to delve deeper into the details surrounding the case and its dismissal.