Video released in trooper's fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety released video footage Tuesday afternoon of the shooting of 33-year-old Ricky Cobb II, who was killed by a state trooper early Monday morning.
The DPS says troopers pulled him over on Interstate 94 near Lowry Avenue around 1:50 a.m. because his tail lights weren't on. They say Cobb was wanted by Ramsey County law enforcement for violating a no-contact order in a domestic case.
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At the press conference, the DPS showed the shooting from four angles - three body camera videos from each of the troopers at the scene, and one squad car video. The video was edited to blur out Cobb's face. The agency has not released the names of the troopers involved, and says they have been placed on administrative leave.
According to the video, the three troopers approached Cobb's car and one stood on the driver's side, one on the passenger side, and one trooper stood behind the car.
Body camera footage of the trooper on the driver's side shows him approaching Cobb and asking him to step out of the car.
"We just have some stuff to talk about," the trooper says, but Cobb, who has his hands raised, refuses and then asks why.
"Is this a warrant?" Cobb asks. The trooper says it's not a warrant. Cobb asks to call his attorney, and then the trooper asks Cobb to hand over the keys to the car. He then tells Cobb repeatedly to get out of the car.
The trooper on the driver's side and passenger side both open the doors, and the trooper on the driver's side tries to pull Cobb out.
"Get out of the car now!" the trooper on the passenger side door yells.
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Cobb appears to put his hand on the shift gear. Video from the trooper on the passenger side shows that the trooper pulled a gun. The sound of the gunshots are not captured on the body camera video, but Col. Matt Langer with the Minnesota State Patrol confirmed it came from the trooper on the passenger side. Two gunshots can be heard on the squad car video as Cobb pulls his car away.
Cobb drives his car away, and two troopers fall hard to the ground. The three troopers begin a short pursuit on foot, before they return to their squad cars and begin to chase Cobb.
After a brief pursuit on Interstate 94, video shows that they came to a stop on the left lane of the highway. The three surround the car and eventually pull Cobb out to provide first aid. Cobb, however, died.
There is no indication that Cobb was armed.
"The one way I would classify it is this is just a very sad situation. It's sad from every perspective and everyone involved," said Langer at Tuesday's press conference.
Langer was asked if it was state patrol policy for a trooper to immediately ask a driver to step out of a vehicle.
"I wouldn't say that it's out of the ordinary for their interactions," Langer said. "They simply asked him to get out of the car. And they had lawful reason to do so."
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Following the release of the video, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty issued a statement that said, in part, "My heart goes out to Mr. Cobb's family who are grieving an unimaginable loss. I know they are devastated and will feel his loss for the rest of their lives. I also know this community continues to navigate the trauma and grief that results from police violence and the tragic loss of our community members at the hands of law enforcement, no matter the circumstances. And I know that our community wants answers. We will work as swiftly as possible to provide them."
Legal experts say there's still many unanswered questions.
"Oddly enough, the dash cam is more significant than the body cam video because it gives us a better sequence of events," said criminal defense attorney Joe Tamburino. "Given that a car is a dangerous weapon, can be used as a dangerous weapon, was the officer trying to protect himself or his fellow officers from great bodily harm or death? That's the bottom line."
Questions the family, and community, hope to get answered.
"I think we need good policing, but we don't need time, after time, after time again for these young Black men to be shot by police, we don't need that, it doesn't help us move in a positive direction," said Rick Petry, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion director at Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Relatives, community leaders and other demonstrators went to the governor's mansion in St. Paul Tuesday to speak out about the fatal shooting. The state patrol showed Nyra Fields-Miller, Cobb's mother, the video before it was shown to the public.
"I'm very confused and very, very hurt," Fields-Miller said.
Dozens of people rallied Tuesday evening near Interstate 94 and 42nd Avenue in north Minneapolis, not far from where Cobb died. They also shut down a short stretch of the street.
Gov. Tim Walz's posted a message on X Wednesday afternoon to say he has been in contact with Cobb's mother.
"I just spoke with Ricky Cobb II's mother to offer my condolences. I assured her that a swift, thorough investigation has already begun and that we will do everything we can to get to the bottom of what happened," Walz said.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar also posted a message of support to Cobb's family on X.
"Ricky Cobb II's family deserves answers. A full investigation must occur to get all the facts," Klobuchar said.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation.
