DPS, State Patrol release video of trooper-involved fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II
By: 0:00 - Dash cam
5:22 - Driver side body cam
11:05 - Passenger side body cam
13:09 - Rear driver side body cam
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Authorities released bodycam and dashcam footage Tuesday from the fatal shooting on Interstate 94 on Monday between Minnesota State Patrol and Ricky Cobb II.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety held a press conference at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday to provide further details and review the footage with the press. The shooting is still under investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Force Investigations Unit, who will present their findings to prosecutors.
Chief Col. Matt Langer of the Minnesota State Patrol said Cobb was pulled after shortly before 1:50 a.m. Monday morning when a State Patrol Trooper working overnight in search of traffic violations spotted Cobb's Ford Fusion with no taillights near Dowling Avenue on I-94.
At that point, Langer said troopers discovered the Cobb had a pickup and hold for a felony violation of an order of protection out of Ramsey County.
A total of four videos were released – bodycam footage from the driver's side, passenger's side, and trooper from behind the vehicle, as well as squad car dashcam video.
In one bodycam video of the driver’s side of Cobb’s vehicle, a trooper is speaking with Cobb and repeatedly asks him to step outside the vehicle. He is asked to hand the trooper his keys but refuses. Cobb can be heard saying, "Call my attorney" and "Is it a warrant?" while being asked to exit.
He continually asks "Why?" while being told to hand over his keys, before he puts the vehicle in drive and begins to drive away.
As the trooper tries to reach into his vehicle, at least two shots can be heard, fired from the passenger side trooper, according to Langer.
When troopers catch up to Cobb, his vehicle is pinned against the guardrail of I-94. A trooper can be heard saying, "Stay with me, man," as the troopers attempt to render aid to him.
Three troopers are on administrative leave, which is standard practice during a fatal use of force incident.
"[This is] A tremendously sad situation from every perspective and for everyone involved," said Langer during the press conference.
When asked whether the use of deadly force was warranted by troopers and about the trooper's attempts to arrest Cobb, Langer said, "When I witness the conduct, I wouldn’t say it’s out of the ordinary to ask him to get out of the vehicle… I haven’t visited with troopers yet as to what they were thinking, and that will be part of the investigation… I simply don’t know what they were thinking."
On Monday evening, family members identified Cobb as the victim and held a vigil in his honor at Mississippi River Regional Park.
According to his family, Cobb was the father of two sons, ages 8 and 10.