State trooper charged in fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II makes first court appearance

The Minnesota state trooper who killed a Black man during a traffic stop last summer was arraigned at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility on Monday.

Ryan Londregan, who fired two gunshots that killed Ricky Cobb II on July 31, appeared between his attorneys, Peter Wold and Chris Madel, as Judge Jean Burdorf read his charges. Londregan was mostly silent during the hearing, speaking only to answer questions posed by Burdorf as to whether he understood the charges and if he had any questions.

Londregan was charged with three counts: second-degree murder while committing a felony, first-degree assault resulting in great bodily harm, and second-degree manslaughter as a result of culpable negligence.

Dressed in a suit and red tie, Londregan held hands with his wife Grace as they were escorted into and out of the courtroom by hundreds of people who appeared to be associated with one of many local law enforcement trade groups.

After the hearing, their supporters, which included two uniformed Bloomington police officers, gathered in front of the public safety facility to thank supporters and lambast Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty for not using a use-of-force expert in deciding on charging Londregan.

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This contradicts the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, including information in its criminal complaint from an interview that Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents attended with the state patrol’s lead use-of-force trainer regarding Londregan’s conduct during the traffic stop that fateful night.

“Last week when we found out trooper Ryan Londregan was charged, they didn’t use a use of force expert,” said Madel as family members and supporters of Ricky Cobb II’s family chanted. “Standing behind me are about 100 different current and former police officers. Here’s a bunch of use-of-force experts. All [Moriarty] needs to do is email me and I’ll hook her up with one.”

Londregan is a free man and will remain as such as long as he obeys the law, attends all court appearances, turns in his passport, does not transport any firearms, and has no contact with any potential witnesses or family members. Madel said in the hearing that he had Londregan’s passport and planned to turn it over to the county attorney later Monday so they could put it in a safe.

After the hearing, Ricky Cobb’s twin brother Rashad Cobb agreed that Londregan should have no contact with him or his family. “What is there to talk about? He needs to talk with God first,” said Rashad.

Londregan is due back in court on April 29 at 9 a.m. The case is being presided over by Judge Tamara Garcia.

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