MINNEAPOLIS — Prosecutors plan to dismiss murder and manslaughter charges against a white Minnesota state trooper who fatally shot Ricky Cobb II, a Black motorist, as Cobb tried to pull away from a traffic stop, citing recent statements from the trooper’s attorney and new analysis of video from the scene.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty filed a notice to dismiss the charges after Trooper Ryan Londregan’s defense team revealed prospective testimony during an April court hearing that the trooper believed Cobb was reaching for a firearm. A Minnesota State Patrol trainer also stated that officers were not instructed to refrain from shooting into a moving vehicle.

The evidence presented by the defense made it difficult for prosecutors to prove that Londregan’s actions were not an authorized use of force by a peace officer, the county attorney’s office said in a statement released Sunday.

Referring to the decision to drop the charges, Londregan’s attorney, Chris Madel, told the Star Tribune, “It’s about goddamn time. That’s going to be about my only on the record comment.”

Bakari Sellers, an attorney representing Cobb’s family, expressed disappointment with the prosecutors’ decision. “They got bullied. There’s no other way around it,” Sellers said.

Londregan, 27, pleaded not guilty on May 15 in the death of Cobb, and his trial was set to begin on September 9.

Troopers pulled the 33-year-old Cobb over on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis last July 31 because the lights were out on his car. They then discovered that the Spring Lake Park man was wanted for violating a protection order in neighboring Ramsey County. Londregan shot Cobb twice as Cobb attempted to drive away after troopers ordered him to get out of his car.

Prosecutors and a law enforcement expert reviewed footage from the scene and found that, as Londregan’s partner clung to the passenger’s door, Cobb moved his hand upward. Cobb did have a gun in the vehicle. Moriarty told the Star Tribune that there is still no evidence he intended to grab it, but the defense team’s statements caused prosecutors to reconsider the evidence from a new perspective.

“They could have told us that before we charged it, they could have told us that at any time,” she said. “And that is information that we would have considered — and obviously have considered.”

Law enforcement and Republican leaders had been urging Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to transfer the case from Moriarty, a former public defender who was elected on a platform of police accountability following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer in 2020, to Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison. Walz had expressed concern about the direction of the case but had not taken action.

Cobb’s family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in April, alleging that the stop and the shooting were unjustified.

Moriarty plans to hold a news conference on Monday morning to discuss her decision to dismiss the charges in more detail. The dismissal of charges against Trooper Londregan marks a significant and controversial development in the case, which has been closely watched in the context of broader discussions about police accountability and systemic racism in law enforcement. The decision is likely to provoke a range of reactions from the public and advocacy groups, reflecting the deep divisions and strong emotions surrounding such cases.

The Cobb case has amplified the national conversation around the use of force by police officers and the legal standards governing such actions. Critics argue that dismissing charges may embolden law enforcement to act with impunity, while supporters believe it underscores the challenges officers face in split-second decision-making situations. This case will undoubtedly continue to shape the dialogue on police practices and the justice system's response to allegations of misconduct.

Moreover, the case highlights the complexities involved in prosecuting law enforcement officers, particularly in incidents involving potential racial bias. The legal and ethical standards applied to officers’ use of force are often scrutinized, with debates focusing on how to balance accountability with the realities of policing. As such, the dismissal of charges against Londregan may influence future cases and the implementation of policies aimed at reducing police violence and ensuring justice for victims of excessive force.