Lawsuit filed against Minnesota Troopers in the death of Ricky Cobb II

Through Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 21, 2024

The federal lawsuit seeks monetary damages from Ryan Londregan and Brett Seide for the July 2023 shooting of Ricky Cobb II.

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On April 17, a federal lawsuit was filed against two Minnesota State Troopers for their involvement in the death of Ricky Cobb II. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages from Ryan Londregan and Brett Seide for the July 2023 shooting.

According to the Min Post, the family of the murdered 33-year-old announced the lawsuit as they continue to seek justice on his behalf. The civil suit alleges that state troopers violated multiple amendments while attempting to remove Cobb II from his vehicle during a traffic stop.

Numerous members of Cobb II’s family were present at the news conference, including his parents and the mothers of both of his children. One of the grieving women shared the new reality her children face after the death of their beloved father.

“Imagine your children walking out the door to school every day and having to say goodbye to an urn instead of their actual parent,” said Danielle Pickett, who shared two sons with Cobb II. “They don’t have a father and we have to raise little boys without their father present.”

The civil lawsuit alleges that the troopers failed to enforce the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments at the scene. The troopers are alleged to have conducted an unreasonable attack and used excessive force against Cobb II. When they stopped him, they learned that Cobb II may have violated a protective order in Ramsey County. This revelation prompted the officers to begin the arrest.

However, Cobb II refused to leave the vehicle on their strength. After the car moved forward, the incident escalated with one of the troopers firing bullets that ultimately killed him. The Cobb family’s attorney, Harry Daniels, explained that the lawsuit does not involve the state or Minneapolis. This is different from the case brought by George Floyd’s family, which received a 27.5 million settlement.

However, Daniels said a lawsuit in this capacity is not out of the question. In addition, Londregan is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter for his involvement.

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