Civil rights activists hailed her decision to charge Trooper Londregan as courageous but faced criticism from some politicians.
Evidence was deemed too weak for trial and new analysis of video from the scene influenced the decision.
Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan had murder charges dropped by new prosecutor Mary Moriarty in a controversial shooting case.
Moriarty promised sweeping changes in criminal justice system and stronger accountability for misconduct.
Ricky Cobb II, the Black motorist killed, had previously sparked bipartisan outrage with his second-degree murder charges.
In a stunning turn of events, the top prosecutor in Minneapolis has dropped murder charges against Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan, who fatally shot a Black motorist last year. The decision to dismiss the charges came from Mary Moriarty, the newly-elected Hennepin County attorney who had previously defended the murder charges amid criticism from both Democratic and Republican officials. Moriarty stated that the evidence was too weak to take to trial.
The case of Trooper Londregan had sparked rare bipartisan outrage as he had been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Ricky Cobb II. However, new analysis of video from the scene influenced prosecutors' decision to dismiss charges against Londregan. Moriarty took office promising sweeping changes in the wake of George Floyd's murder and stronger efforts to hold officers accountable for misconduct.
Civil rights activists had hailed her decision to charge Trooper Londregan as courageous. However, Gov. Tim Walz, a fellow Democrat, had voiced his unease and made clear that he was considering using his legal authority to remove the case from her purview. In recent months, six of the state's eight members of Congress issued statements criticizing the prosecution.
The dismissal of charges against Trooper Londregan comes after a thorough review of evidence and footage from the scene. Prosecutors found that there was no clear intention from Cobb to grab a gun in his vehicle, and that Londregan's defense team's statements caused them to reconsider the evidence through a new lens.
While some may view this decision as a victory for law enforcement, it is essential to remember the importance of holding officers accountable for their actions. The case of Ricky Cobb II serves as a reminder that we must continue to push for transparency and justice in our criminal justice system.
Trooper Ryan Londregan believed Cobb was reaching for a firearm during the traffic stop
New analysis of video from the scene influenced prosecutors’ decision to dismiss charges against Trooper Londregan
Accuracy
Prosecutors will dismiss murder and manslaughter charges against Trooper Ryan Londregan for the shooting of Ricky Cobb
Ricky Cobb II was killed during a traffic stop by Trooper Londregan who is white.
Trooper Ryan Londregan believed Cobb was reaching for a firearm during the traffic stop.
Minnesota State Patrol trainer stated he never instructed officers to refrain from shooting into a moving vehicle.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential dichotomous depiction. The author cites the trooper's attorney's statements as part of their decision-making process, which constitutes an appeal to authority. Additionally, the article presents the trooper's belief that Cobb was reaching for a firearm without clarifying whether this belief was accurate or not, which could create a dichotomous depiction of the situation (either Cobb was reaching for a firearm or he wasn't).
Prosecutors plan to dismiss murder and manslaughter charges against a white Minnesota state trooper... saying the decision comes in response to recent statements from the trooper's attorney and new analysis of video from the scene.
Referring to the decision to drop the charges, Londregan's attorney, Chris Madel, told the Star Tribune,
Trooper Ryan Londregan believed Cobb was reaching for a firearm during the traffic stop (other articles do not mention this)
New analysis of video from the scene influenced prosecutors’ decision to dismiss charges against Trooper Londregan (not mentioned in other articles)
Accuracy
Minnesota county attorney dismissed charges against state trooper Ryan Londregan who fatally shot Black man Ricky T. Cobb II during a traffic stop last year
Trooper Ryan Londregan was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter in January 2023
During the traffic stop, Cobb shifted his car to drive and took his foot off the brake, leading to Londregan shooting him
Defense attorneys presented new evidence that would make it impossible for the State to prove Londregan’s actions were not an authorized use of force by a peace officer
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced dismissal of charges against Londregan on Sunday, April 23, 2023
Moriarty stated that there were many ways Londregan could have handled the situation differently and that Cobb might still be alive if he had
Londregan’s attorney Chris Madel lauded the decision and called his client a hero
Deception
(30%)
The article reports new evidence presented in the case that would make it impossible for the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred. This is an example of selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position and ignores other important context such as Cobb being wanted for a violation of a protective order and repeatedly asking why he needed to exit his car. The article also quotes defense attorneys stating that Londregan would testify that he thought Cobb was reaching for his firearm, but does not provide any evidence or context to support this claim.
Defense attorneys said Londregan would testify that he thought Cobb was reaching for his firearm.
The new evidence presented in the case would make it impossible for the State to prove that Mr. Londregan’s actions were not an authorized use of force by a peace officer.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority when she quotes the Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stating that the new evidence presented in the case would make it impossible for the State to prove that Londregan's actions were not an authorized use of force by a peace officer. This is a fallacy because while Moriarty is an authority figure, her statement does not necessarily mean that Londregan's actions were justified.
The new evidence presented in the case would make it impossible for the State to prove that Mr. Londregan’s actions were not an authorized use of force by a peace officer.
a trainer for the Minnesota State Patrol said he never instructed officers to refrain from shooting into a moving vehicle during an extraction, even though that is best practice.
