A federal judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit against Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II during a 2023 traffic stop. The decision comes after criminal charges against Londregan were previously dismissed by the Hennepin County Attorney. U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel granted Londregan’s motion to dismiss the civil suit, ruling that he acted reasonably when he opened fire as Cobb’s vehicle lurched forward with another state trooper partially inside.
The incident occurred on July 31, 2023, when two troopers pulled over Cobb for driving without taillights on Interstate 94 in north Minneapolis. It was later revealed that Cobb was wanted for violating a felony domestic no-contact order. Despite commands to exit the vehicle, Cobb refused. As trooper Seide tried to unbuckle Cobb’s seatbelt, the car began to move forward, prompting Londregan to fire his weapon, hitting Cobb twice.
Brasel stated that the troopers were obligated by state law to make an arrest due to Cobb’s violation of the no-contact order. She deemed Londregan’s use of force to be objectively reasonable, as he believed that Seide was in immediate danger as the car moved forward on a busy highway. Londregan’s attorney, Chris Madel, expressed relief that his client has finally achieved justice after a long and arduous legal battle. The case has fueled ongoing debate regarding the use of excessive force by law enforcement.
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