Attorneys Call on DOJ to Investigate Ricky Cobb II Killing and Disturbing Failures at Minnesota State Patrol

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Attorneys for the family of Ricky Cobb II, the 33-year-old Black man shot and killed by Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan during a routine traffic stop, today called on the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Cobb’s killing as well as disturbing failures in both training and procedure at the Minnesota State Patrol outlined in a report released by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Monday, June 3.

Cobb’s family will speak at today’s news conference as well as nationally renowned civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers and Harry Daniels as well as F. Clayton Tyler.

Cobb’s killing sparked a national outcry in August when the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MDPS) released dash camera and body-worn camera video of the incident. According to the video and the MDPS, Cobb was pulled over for not having his rear lights on and, while three officers responded to the initial incident, Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan was the only one to discharge his firearm.

“I don’t think there is any more glaring example of a department that needs to be investigated than the Minnesota State Patrol,” Sellers said. “The report released by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office outlined multiple disturbing failures at the Minnesota State Patrol and, based on those failures alone, someone needs to come in and investigate the Minnesota State Patrol because, if this continues, you’ll have more innocent people killed. We don’t want there to be another Ricky Cobb II.”

“Everyone in Minnesota should be concerned that those officers are untrained and out on the streets”

Cobb’s family and their attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against Londregan and fellow State Trooper Brett Seide earlier this year in April.