ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) has released body cam and squad car video of the fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II on the shoulder of Interstate 94 early Monday morning.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson and State Patrol Chief Col. Matt Langer showed segments from four videos — three body-worn and one squad — which document the encounter over a span of 12 minutes.
The videos from the body-worn cameras show the exchange from the driver's side, passenger's side and back of Cobb's vehicle as troopers approach. The officer on the driver's side is heard telling Cobb to exit the vehicle, while Cobb asks them to produce a warrant. Following a brief back-and-forth, Cobb declines to exit the vehicle, driving away as two troopers physically try to remove him. The officers are then seen falling out of Cobb's vehicle from both the passenger and driver's side doors, before running back to their squad cars and engaging in a short pursuit.
The next time Cobb is seen on camera, troopers are first seen brandishing their weapons before rendering aid to him as he suffers from what ultimately became fatal gunshot wounds.
Watch the State Patrol video below. Warning: this video contains graphic images and language. Viewer discretion is advised.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed early Tuesday that Cobb died of multiple gunshot wounds during the roadside incident, which took place just after 2:30 a.m. Monday on the shoulder of I-94 near 42nd Ave. N. in Minneapolis.
According to the initial report from the State Patrol, a trooper monitoring traffic saw a Ford Focus with no tail lights and pulled over the driver, later identified as Ricky Cobb II. The agency said when the trooper ran the driver's information, he learned Cobb was wanted for a "pick-up and hold" over a felony incident out of Ramsey County.
At that point, the patrol said a number of troopers on the scene tried to place Cobb under arrest. Cobb reportedly tried to drive off and at some point, a trooper opened fire. Langer said he couldn't confirm how many times Cobb was struck.
Three troopers involved are on standard administrative leave while the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) continues its investigation.
Before releasing the videos to the public, Langer told the press he spent the earlier part of Tuesday showing them to Cobb's family first.
"This is a tremendously sad situation," Langer said. "It's sad from every perspective and for everyone involved."
WATCH BELOW: Family members of Ricky Cobb II and activists spoke Tuesday prior to the state releasing four videos — three body-worn and one squad — of the deadly shooting.
On Tuesday afternoon, a collection of activists and family members gathered in front of the governor's mansion to decry Cobb's death and call for the release of unedited video of the shooting. Veteran activist Spike Moss urged those attending to gear up for a long battle as the fight for justice involves the state and not just local police.
"Injustice is still injustice," Moss insisted. "It's not just to one of us (Cobb), it's to all of us. I stand here with another grieving mother, I'm sick and tired of watching it."
Moss helped Cobb's mother, Nyra Fields-Miller, to the microphone. Fields-Miller was clearly unsteady as she poured out the pain and emotion of losing a son.
"I'm confused... I'm speechless... and I'm very hurt," she said, tears rolling out from behind her sunglasses. "This is so hurtful, worst days of my life."
"I want justice for my son," Fields-Miller concluded, before crumbling to the ground as family members came to her aid.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released a statement saying her office will work "as swiftly as possible" to provide answers for the community.
"This is an important decision that impacts everyone in our community, including the family and friends of Ricky Cobb, the troopers who were involved, and our broader community," Moriarty's statement reads, in part. "I take both police accountability and the integrity of the legal process very seriously. ... The investigation is ongoing, including interviewing of witnesses, and I have asked the BCA to prioritize the investigation. We remain in communication with the BCA to make sure they gather the information we will need to make a decision. Once the case is submitted to us for review, we will use all the resources available to analyze the evidence and make a charging decision as quickly as possible. We cannot discuss the case further until the BCA has completed their investigation.”
Another media briefing in Minneapolis followed on Wednesday, organized by the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter (BLM) Twin Cities and BLM Minnesota. Among a group of Cobb’s supporters and social justice activists, Twin Cities civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong laid out a list of demands for the state’s top officials in response to Cobb’s fatal shooting.
Armstrong called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to expand the scope of its excessive force investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department by including departments in St. Paul, surrounding suburbs and in greater Minnesota, saying the issues they see in policing are systemic.
“For some reason, they only set their sights on one police department when the problem is systemic,” she said. “We are not safe as Black people.”
She also called on elected officials to take more action, including Gov. Tim Walz, who she urged to fire the officers involved in Cobb’s death. She also pressed Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to arrest and charge them.
“We are sick and tired of being sick and tired,” she said. “This family did not deserve to experience what they’re experiencing now.”
Fields-Miller was also present, saying her “heart is heavy every day,” but she continues to “stand tall” and be a “rock” for her son.
“Let’s bring justice forth,” she said.
Cobb’s twin brother then spoke, echoing his mother.
“All we want is justice,” he said.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available.
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