On 31 July 2023, police stopped a vehicle. With police trying to grab the keys from the ignition, the driver took off and was shot by one of the troopers. The driver was wanted for felony charges involving a no-contact violation.
Yesterday, 24 January 2024, the Hennepin County attorney filed murder charges against the trooper who shot the driver.
Video from three body cams and a squad car is at
Londregan, the shooter, was the trooper at the passenger side of the vehicle.
Stories at
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/bca-identifies-minnesota-state-troopers-involved-in-shooting-of-ricky-cobb/89-9f8ed129-ef35-4b31-bd37-419e7b8400dd
and
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/trooper-charged-murder-traffic-stop-ricky-cobb/89-7eddfde9-c3e1-4cad-ae82-878f6386b36c
The Hennepin County Attorney, more concerned with the driver's family's anguish, had a use of force expert consulting on the case but charged Londregan without him saying that they made the decision based on their own investigation. The Minnesota police association attorney pointed out that since they aren't using the use of force expert, it is most probable that the use of force expert thought that the shooting was justified.
From the second story:
Yesterday, 24 January 2024, the Hennepin County attorney filed murder charges against the trooper who shot the driver.
Video from three body cams and a squad car is at
Londregan, the shooter, was the trooper at the passenger side of the vehicle.
Stories at
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/bca-identifies-minnesota-state-troopers-involved-in-shooting-of-ricky-cobb/89-9f8ed129-ef35-4b31-bd37-419e7b8400dd
and
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/trooper-charged-murder-traffic-stop-ricky-cobb/89-7eddfde9-c3e1-4cad-ae82-878f6386b36c
The Hennepin County Attorney, more concerned with the driver's family's anguish, had a use of force expert consulting on the case but charged Londregan without him saying that they made the decision based on their own investigation. The Minnesota police association attorney pointed out that since they aren't using the use of force expert, it is most probable that the use of force expert thought that the shooting was justified.
From the second story:
Quote:
"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.
