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Family of Ricky Cobb II speaks after trooper charged with murder
Cobb II was shot and killed by 27-year-old state trooper Ryan Londregan on July 31, 2023, after he was pulled over on Interstate 94 for a tail light violation.
MINNEAPOLIS — The family of Ricky Cobb II, and the attorney representing them, gathered Thursday in Minneapolis, a day after a Minnesota State trooper was charged with murder in Cobb’s July 2023 shooting death.
“I would say to any father who has lost a child: It takes you to a different level. I have to stand strong,” said Ricky Cobb Jr., about his son.
Cobb II was shot and killed by 27-year-old state trooper Ryan Londregan on July 31, 2023, after he was initially pulled over on Interstate 94 for a tail light violation, according to the Department of Public Safety. On Wednesday, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced her office filed charges against Londregan, including second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter.
“I would like to thank Mary and her staff for taking the time to examine this case and make the right decision,” Cobb’s twin brother, Rashad, said at the press conference Thursday morning. “I understand the fight will be long, grueling, painful… and that comes with stuff like this.”
The situation for Cobb turned deadly after troopers learned he was wanted in Ramsey County in connection with a felony-level violation. Records show Cobb violated 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 before Londregan fired from the open passenger door as the car lurched forward.
As the car pulled away, the troopers fell to the ground, suffering minor injuries. Cobb crashed about a quarter-mile away, where he was pronounced dead from a 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.
“When we think of situations like this, it’s a problem for our country, and once we come together and figure this out, this is where it starts, in Minnesota — again,” Rashad said. “It’s hard every day to wake up and look at myself in the face, but I have to because I have to look my people in the face. We want equality; we want justice; we’re not asking for the world — we’re just asking for what’s righteously ours.”
Daniels, the family’s attorney, said the case is a matter of “right versus wrong.”
“Make no mistake about it, the bells of justice have not started ringing,” Daniels said, “someone just started walking to the tower, and this is the first step.”
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 Londregran, Chris Madel, posted a video statement responding 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.”
Cobb’s mother, Nyra Fields-Miller, also spoke Thursday, saying she will not rest until there is justice for her son.
“I stand in solidarity and for justice for my son,” she said. “I stand as solid as a rock — I’m not to be moved easily.”
“As a brother, I couldn’t ask for anyone better,” Rashad said about Ricky’s character. “As a man, as a father, you know, we go to work; we take care of our kids; we help our friends; we go to church. The person we’re speaking about is an all-around man.”
Adding, “If you think about an angel in angel form, that was my brother.”
Londregan is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday, Jan. 29, at 1:15 p.m.
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The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a plan to shut down the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) on Thursday.
The resolution comes after decades of protests against the massive North Loop trash incinerator that burns roughly 365,000 tons of garbage a year.
“Today is a big step towards protecting the health of our communities and addressing longstanding environmental injustices that disproportionately impact communities of color,” said councilmember Robin Wonsley, in a statement.
The resolution calls for the incinerator to be permanently closed by Dec 31, 2027 and for the entire facility to be shut down by Dec 31, 2033.
The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
In October 2023, the Hennepin County Board signed off on a plan to close the HERC between 2028 and 2040, depending on how quickly the county can transition into a zero-waste system.
Of the garbage burned at the HERC, 75% comes from the city of Minneapolis. The other 25% comes from a dozen other cities in the area. The HERC produces enough energy to power more than 25,000 homes and half the buildings in downtown Minneapolis.
At a City Council Meeting on Oct. 10, Jenni Lansing with the City of Minneapolis Health Department provided analysis on the air pollution impacts of HERC. She said the health department supports working towards a zero-waste future and the ultimate closure of HERC, but said closing it now is not the solution.
“Overall emissions in Hennepin County are dominated by on-road and non-road, mobile and nonpoint sources, and these sources drive the cancer and non-cancer risks to health in Minneapolis,” Lansing said.
Hennepin County defines zero waste as preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The snow is really coming down in some places with Maple Lake getting 3.5″ so far.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The wettest Halloween storm ever — is making mischief before little trick-or-treaters hit their neighborhood’s slushy streets.
Officials are reporting several power outages and car spin-outs.
There have been over 14,000 power outages, according to Xcel Energy.
The Minnesota State Patrol has responded to 169 crashes and 94 vehicles off the road, as of 2. pm. Thursday.
Meteorologist Beny Dery said an additional 1 to 2″ of snow is possible before things taper off this evening.
So far some of the totals around town are: 3.5″ Maple Lake, 3.0″ Buffalo, 2.5″ Dassel, 2.4″ Windom, 2.0″ St. Bonifacious, 1.5″ Maple Plain and 1.5″ in Bethel.
The snow is expected to let up from west to east and should wrap up for the metro between 5 to 6 p.m.
Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.
MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.
Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow. The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
