Killing of Ricky Cobb II

{{update|date=March 2024}}

{{Short description|Police shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US}}

{{use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}

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| date = July 31, 2023

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| location = Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

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The Death of Ricky Cobb II occurred on July 31, 2023 after he was pulled over on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis for a traffic violation.{{cite news |last1=Harlow |first1=Tim |last2=Sawyer |first2=Liz |last3=Walsh |first3=Paul |last4=Krauss |first4=Louis |title=Man, 33, shot dead by State Patrol on I-94 in north Minneapolis |url=https://www.startribune.com/westbound-i-94-shut-down-north-minneapolis-use-of-force-incident/600293662/ |access-date=4 February 2024 |work=Star Tribune |publisher=Star Tribune Media Company LLC |date=31 July 2023 |df=mdy-all |location=Minneapolis, MN}}{{cite news |title=Minnesota trooper fatally shoots Black driver fleeing traffic stop on freeway |url=https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-police-force-interstate-94-ff96282344ea29736be9fa6b0bd79752 |access-date=4 February 2024 |work=AP News (apnews.com) |agency=AP |publisher=The Associated Press |date=31 July 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Ballentine |first1=Summer |title=Investigators name the trooper who fatally shot a Black Minnesota man during a traffic stop |url=https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-black-man-shot-traffic-stop-14081a3fafc9aab467d1c456f9605de0 |access-date=4 February 2024 |work=AP News |agency=AP |publisher=The Associated Press |date=3 August 2023 |df=mdy-all |language=en}} During the traffic stop, a trooper found that Cobb was wanted in Ramsey County for violating a protection order. Ramsey County officials requested the troopers arrest Cobb. Two troopers approached the doors of Cobb's vehicle. While the trooper on the driver's side informed Cobb he was being arrested, the other trooper unlocked and opened the passenger side door. Cobb put the car into drive and released the brake and the car moved forward. The passenger-side trooper reached for his gun and Cobb stopped the car. While ordering Cobb to get out of the car, Cobb once again began to move the vehicle dragging both troopers, the officer on the passenger side shot twice, killing Cobb. The car kept moving and traveled a short distance before crashing into a median barrier. Cobb was later pronounced dead at the scene.{{cite news |last1=Vancleave |first1=Mark |title=Minnesota trooper accused of fatally shooting motorist Ricky Cobb II makes first court appearance |url=https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-trooper-shooting-ricky-cobb-ii-c7c7a08bcc9f0fe27c5a554e6ca18fd6 |access-date=3 February 2024 |work=AP News (apnews.com) |agency=AP |publisher=The Associated Press |date=29 January 2024 |df=mdy-all |language=en}}

Trooper Ryan Londregan was later charged in February 2024 with unintentional murder as well as manslaughter as a result of the shooting.{{cite news |last1=Karnowski |first1=Steve |last2=Ahmed |first2=Trisha |title=Minnesota trooper is charged with murder in shooting of motorist Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop |url=https://apnews.com/article/ricky-cobb-trooper-charged-shooting-freeway-minnesota-a148e1608b6723e3563e6702f1d92fa3 |access-date=4 February 2024 |work=AP News (apnews.com) |agency=AP |publisher=The Associated Press |date=24 January 2024 |df=mdy-all |language=en}} The case was later dropped by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in June 2024 after a review of evidence, including a gun found by investigators processing the vehicle Cobb was driving during the stop. Also found were two bullet cartridge casings indicating that Cobb had discharged the gun while in the car. The gun was located on the floor behind the center console in the back of Cobb’s vehicle.

Cobb’s felony criminal history indicates that he would have been prohibited from possessing guns. Cobb had a previous gun conviction and a previous conviction for the attempted strangulation of a woman.