The top prosecutor in Minneapolis has dropped murder charges against a state trooper who fatally shot a motorist last year after a traffic stop, her office said on Sunday, a stunning turnaround in a case that ignited a political firestorm.
The trooper, Ryan Londregan, had been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Ricky Cobb II.
But the prosecutor, Mary Moriarty, a longtime public defender who was elected Hennepin County attorney in 2022, said she concluded that the evidence was too weak to take to trial.
For months, Ms. Moriarty defended the murder charges amid criticism from both Democratic and Republican officials, as well as law enforcement officials.
Mr. Cobb, 33, was Black; Trooper Londregan, 27, is white.
Persons:
Ryan Londregan, Ricky Cobb, Mary Moriarty, Moriarty, ”, George Floyd, Cobb, Londregan
Organizations:
Hennepin, Democratic, Republican
Locations:
Minneapolis, Hennepin County