A federal judge has dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against a White Minnesota state trooper who shot and killed a Black man during a traffic stop last year. US District Judge Nancy Brasel ruled that Trooper Ryan Londregan's actions did not violate the law.
The lawsuit was filed by the family of Ricky Cobb II, who was shot and killed by Trooper Londregan during a traffic stop on Interstate 94. The incident occurred when Cobb's vehicle began moving forward with another state trooper partly inside.
Judge Brasel granted Trooper Londregan's motion to dismiss the suit, stating that he did not act unreasonably when he fired his weapon at Cobb. The judge found that the trooper's actions were justified given the circumstances of the situation.
The troopers had pulled Cobb over for having his car lights out and discovered that he was wanted for violating a domestic no-contact order. When Cobb's car started moving forward as troopers instructed him to get out, Trooper Londregan fired his weapon, striking Cobb twice in the chest.
While the Hennepin County Attorney's Office initially charged Londregan with murder, the charges were later dropped due to new evidence that would have made the case difficult to prove. The case became politically charged in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Cobb's family filed a lawsuit accusing Trooper Londregan and another trooper of excessive use of force and unreasonable search and seizure. Following the dismissal of the lawsuit, Londregan's attorney expressed relief, calling it a 'long, grueling journey to justice.' Cobb's family is considering appealing the decision or amending their complaint against Londregan.
