MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota State Trooper who shot and killed Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop on Interstate 94 in July is now charged with murder.
On Wednesday, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office filed second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter charges against Ryan Londregan, 27.
"I want to acknowledge that this is a difficult day for many," said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in a press conference Wednesday morning. "My heart is with Mr. Cobb's family. They are devastated and will continue to grieve Mr. Cobb’s loss the rest of their lives."
Moriarty said her office determined Londregan's use of deadly force against Cobb was unnecessary through its own investigation.
"We were able to determine that charges were appropriate without the use of an expert," Moriarty said, in reference to a question about her own September 2023 statement claiming her office had "already identified" a use-of-force expert to aid in its review.
“The type of expert who examines evidence in nearly every case where an officer uses force. Their independent review is a critical part of our process. We selected this expert even before we received the completed investigation so that we could move forward with our work immediately upon receipt of the file,” the statement read.
Londregan's legal team, as well as the Minnesota Police and Peace Officer's Association (MPPOA), immediately criticized Moriarty herself and her reasoning for the charges.
"The fact that there is no expert tells me that there is likely no expert that would agree with her conclusion that the officer should be charged with murder," said Imran Ali, general counsel for the MPPOA.
Though a use of force expert isn't required to bring charges in a case like this, University of St. Thomas School of Law professor Rachel Moran says it could play a role if and when the case goes to trial.
"I think it's not that big a deal at the charging stage, but it could become a big deal if this case were to go to trial," Moran said. "The defense will probably find an expert, or multiple experts, who say this use of force was justified. Will the state have someone to say it wasn't? You can charge a case without an expert, but the strength of your case at trial may depend on if you have an expert at that point."
BELOW: University of St. Thomas School of Law professor Rachel Moran breaks down the charges against trooper Ryan Londregan and some of the factors that could prove pivotal if the case goes to trial.
Following the press conference, the Cobb family said in a statement that the decision to charge Londregan is the "first step toward closure and justice."
“Ryan Londregan stole my son from me,” Cobb’s mother, Nyra Fields-Miller, said. “He gunned Ricky down, my son, for no reason while he was defenseless. Nothing can ever make up for that. But today’s decision is the first step toward closure and justice.”
One of the attorneys for the family, Harry Daniels, also weighed in after the decision, directing his message at law enforcement.
“Today’s decision makes one thing absolutely clear,” said Daniels. “Police officers like this who act with brutality and reckless disregard for the law in Minnesota are on notice. Your day is done. Either the criminal prosecutors will hold you accountable or we will.”
Minnesota State Patrol Col. Matt Langer responded to the county attorney by calling the shooting "tragic" and saying the State Patrol will use what it learns in its continuing investigation to "inform" its training and policies going forward.
"Any time a use-of-force incident ends with the loss of a life, it is tragic. Ricky Cobb II’s death is no different. This is a sad situation for everyone involved. We acknowledge the deep loss felt by Mr. Cobb’s family and friends. We also recognize the gravity of this situation for the State Patrol and our troopers tasked with making difficult split-second decisions," Langer's statement read, in part.
Langer went on to say that Londregan will remain on paid leave during the Department of Public Safety's Internal Affairs' investigation into the shooting, as in accordance with Londregan's labor contract.
President Mike LeDoux of the Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association argued the troopers were bound by their legal duty to apprehend Cobb on that day, and found themselves in a "rapidly evolving and potentially life-threatening scenario."
"While we steadfastly support our troopers, we also emphasize the critical principles of accountability and transparency in law enforcement. Accountability ensures that actions taken by law enforcement are subject to review and scrutiny, and transparency fosters trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve," LeDoux said.
“We unwaveringly support these committed individuals as they put their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe," Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Brian Peters said in a statement. "MPPOA will vigorously defend our trooper who is unjustly charged as a result of acting in accordance with his legal responsibilities. The State Troopers used their training and acted accordingly to arrest the driver and address the imminent threat to both law enforcement personnel and the public at large as the driver unlawfully and dangerously attempted to escape in his vehicle. The State Trooper’s actions were driven by his lawful duty.”
Trooper Brett Seide pulled over Cobb on July 31, 2023, at 1:50 a.m. near Lowry Avenue because his tail lights weren’t on, according to the Department of Public Safety.
After making the traffic stop, DPS said troopers learned Cobb was wanted in Ramsey County in connection with a felony-level violation. Records show Cobb was in violation of a no-contact order.
Body camera video released by Minnesota State Patrol officials showed troopers trying to detain Cobb, as the trooper at the driver’s side went to unbuckle Cobb’s seatbelt. The video showed Cobb’s hand moving toward the gear-shifter and Londregan firing from the open passenger door as the car lurched forward.
Troopers Seide and Londregan received minor injuries after falling to the ground as the car pulled away. Cobb crashed about a quarter-mile away and was pronounced dead at the scene from the gunshot wound.
Londregan is the first officer to be charged by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty since she was elected after running a campaign promising police accountability.
Moriarty’s office received the case from the BCA in September and began its review.
Moriarty also expressed disappointment last fall that other state patrol troopers had not given voluntary statements to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Those troopers were questioned under oath as part of an investigative grand jury convened in December, sources confirmed to KARE 11 News.
The BCA said while processing Cobb's car after the shooting, investigators found two cartridge casings, a cell phone and a handgun on the floor in the back seat, but added that at no point on the bodycam or car video was Cobb seen holding the firearm.
Almost immediately following the county's announcement to bring charges against Londregan, his team filed a notice of defense, claiming Londregan's use of deadly force was necessary to protect both himself and Seide from "death and/or great bodily harm."
According to the notice of defense, Seide told the BCA, "Cobb's conduct was terrifying, dangerous, and lethal force was needed before he could kill me and Trooper Londregan."
One of the attorneys representing Londegran, Chris Madel, posted a video statement in response to the county's charges. In it, he criticizes Moriarty's work as the county's top law enforcement official and calls his client a "hero."
"This county attorney has provided sweetheart deals to murderers and kidnappers, and now today, she charges a hero," he said, adding, "Open season on law enforcement must end, and it’s going to end with this case."
Londgren is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday, Jan. 29, at 1:15 p.m.
Minnesota law allows police officers to use deadly force “only when necessary in defense of human life or to prevent great bodily harm.” The statute also states:
- The use of deadly force by a peace officer in the line of duty is justified only if an objectively reasonable officer would believe, based on the totality of the circumstances known to the officer at the time and without the benefit of hindsight, that such force is necessary:
- (1) to protect the peace officer or another from death or great bodily harm, provided that the threat:
- (i) can be articulated with specificity;
- (ii) is reasonably likely to occur absent action by the law enforcement officer; and
- (2) to effect the arrest or capture, or prevent the escape, of a person whom the peace officer knows or has reasonable grounds to believe has committed or attempted to commit a felony and the officer reasonably believes that the person will cause death or great bodily harm to another person under the threat criteria in clause (1), items (i) to (iii), unless immediately apprehended.
- (b) A peace officer shall not use deadly force against a person based on the danger the person poses to self if an objectively reasonable officer would believe, based on the totality of the circumstances known to the officer at the time and without the benefit of hindsight, that the person does not pose a threat of death or great bodily harm to the peace officer or to another under the threat criteria in paragraph (a), clause (1), items (i) to (iii).
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