Minneapolis, MN
Supporters, opponents of state trooper charged with murder face off at Minneapolis courthouse
MINNEAPOLIS — Supporters and critics of a white Minnesota state trooper who’s charged with murder for killing a Black motorist confronted each other at a courthouse Monday in an exchange that was heated but peaceful, reflecting the strong emotions that the politically charged case has generated.
More than 300 people, including law enforcement officers from several agencies, gathered in the Hennepin County Government Center in solidarity with Trooper Ryan Londregan ahead of a pretrial hearing in his case. He’s charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and assault for fatally shooting Ricky Cobb II as Cobb tried to drive away from a traffic stop last summer. A similarly large crowd aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement shouted down an attempt by Londregan’s defense team to hold a news conference afterward.
“Trooper Londregan followed his training,” defense attorney Chris Madel was able to tell reporters. He noted that the defense team filed sworn declarations from four current and former troopers who say Londregan’s use of deadly force was justified. Madel also called for “a prosecutor who cares about the facts more than they do about yelling,” before the shouts of “Whose streets? Our streets” grew too loud.
“No good cops in a racist system,” the protesters also chanted. “No justice, no peace. Prosecute the police.”
Four former federal prosecutors from the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Steptoe LLC will be deputized to take over the case from the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty after the original leader of the prosecution team stepped away from the case, said Chris Freeman, managing attorney for the office’s adult prosecution division.
Freeman did not address news reports that Assistant County Attorney Joshua Larson had removed himself as lead prosecutor, but confirmed to Judge Tamara Garcia that Larson is no longer on the case.
Moriarty later said in a statement that she would retain full authority over the case and pay the attorneys out of her existing budget. She named Karima Maloney, Michael Bromwich, Ryan Poscablo and Steven Levin as the new team.
Law enforcement and Republican leaders have been calling on Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to take the case away 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, and turn it over to Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison. Walz has expressed concern about the direction of the case but has not acted.
In a jab at the incoming prosecution team, Madel told reporters they’d rather the case went to “somebody who cares about justice more than hourly fees.”
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association organized a show of support for Londregan before the hearing. The crowd, including many people wearing T-shirts proclaiming his innocence, greeted him with loud cheers and sustained applause as he and his defense team entered the courthouse.
Troopers pulled the 33-year-old Cobb over on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis on July 31 because the lights were out on his car. They found that the Spring Lake Park man was wanted for violating a protection order in neighboring Ramsey County. Londregan arrived to assist. They were telling Cobb to get out when he shifted into drive and took his foot off the brake. Cobb’s car began to slowly move forward. Londregan reached for his gun. Cobb stopped. Londregan pointed his gun at Cobb and yelled at him to get out. Cobb took his foot off the brake again while another trooper’s torso was at least partially in the car. Londregan then fired twice at Cobb, striking him both times in the chest, the criminal complaint says.
Cobb’s family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit two weeks ago, alleging that the stop and shooting were unjustified.
The judge set two dates for future hearings. The new prosecution team will introduce itself to the court at 1:30 p.m. on May 15, and there will be a fuller hearing June 10 at 9 a.m. to set a trial date and discuss motions by the defense to dismiss the charges for lack of probable cause and alleged prosecution misconduct.
Arguing that the charges lack sufficient grounds, Madel noted during the hearing that the prosecution has yet to name an expert witness who could testify that Londregan’s actions weren’t justified. Garcia said they can discuss a deadline for disclosure of prosecution expert witnesses at the May 15 hearing.
The misconduct allegation includes the defense claim that the criminal complaint filed by prosecutors misrepresented statements by the Minnesota State Patrol’s lead use-of-force trainer, by omitting that expert’s conclusion that Londregan did nothing wrong.
Minneapolis, MN
MPD 3rd Precinct: 'Democracy center’ business, organization wanted
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Following months of discussion over what to do with the site of the former Minneapolis Police Department Third Precinct, city officials are now looking for “businesses, organizations, or teams” interested in running a new “democracy center” at 3000 Minnehaha Avenue South.
Third Precinct site
Background: The former police precinct was destroyed in the riots sparked by the death of George Floyd in May 2020. The burned building has sat empty at the corner of Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue for the past four years.
Since then, the city has debated what to do with the location.
Democracy center
What officials are saying: In an announcement on Monday, city officials say they are seeking a suitor that will, “take a community-focused approach to developing, programming, managing, and using about 8,000 square feet… for the purposes of the democracy center.”
The city says it looks to move forward with a mixed-use democracy center that would house elections and voter services. It would also include a ground-floor space for “community use.”
Community engagement
By the numbers: The city has previously conducted open houses, curated conversations and shared online surveys – the results of which it says showed 63% in support and 17% opposed of the idea.
What’s next?
Look ahead: The city is hoping to finalize design plans in the coming weeks and start renovations in 2025 with hopes of the democracy center opening sometime in 2026.
The Source: Previous FOX 9 reporting and an update provided by the City of Minneapolis.
Minneapolis, MN
1 year later: Family urges killer of 16-year-old shot days before last Christmas to come forward
Isayah Coburn was fatally shot on Dec. 23 of last year in south Minneapolis — just days after his 16th birthday.
“He had an old spirit,” said Dawn Williams about her son.
Isayah’s murder remains unsolved one year later.
“It’s not just another teen who died; it’s somebody’s son, it’s somebody’s brother, somebody’s friend,” said Jamila Troop, Isayah’s older sister. “He means a whole lot to us.”
Gunfire broke out on Dec. 23, 2023, on East Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis.
Isayah was shot and died, and a woman was also shot but survived.
In the same area, just 24 hours before, two other people were shot, according to police.
The family said Isayah was walking to get pizza.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS asked Minneapolis Police multiple questions about the teen’s case — including what could have sparked the gunfire.
A police spokesperson only said in an email that the investigation is open and that no arrests have been made.
Isayah’s family holds onto hope someone will step forward with a clue in his murder.
“Tell the truth, you can’t keep running from it, keep hiding from it, tell the truth,” Williams said.
As the family waits for a break in the case, Williams says she must remain strong while feeling the pain of losing a child.
“I’m the matriarch; I have to set an example for the other kids and other people who look up to me,” Williams said. “If I fall off, they will fall off too… I can’t fall off.”
If you have that tip in the case, remember you can remain anonymous by connecting to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota.
Minneapolis, MN
Vanessa Dayton wanted to build a house in the Bryn Mawr woods. Then the neighbors found out.
Dayton has stopped people to let them know when they’re trespassing, and most are polite, but Griswold Holmberg said one “kind of came after her with a chain saw.”
“She doesn’t yell, but she says, ‘You’re trespassing,’” Griswold Holmberg said.
Brooks said the “rubble-strewn vacant land” went unsold for a couple of years because it had no street access and no city utilities, so the owner would have to invest in bringing water and sewer service to the property.
It’s not unusual for a neighborhood to take ownership of vacant lots or parcels and make them their own, Brooks said.
“It’s pretty classic and sometimes comical, and in this case, it’s hard to understand why it’s contentious,” he said. “Bryn Mawr is a community that loves organic things and taking care of the land and environmental issues, and that’s her entire passion, so hard to understand why they haven’t embraced that.”
Dayton built something similar outside of Boulder, Colo.: She bought a 2-acre parcel, built an urban garden and opened it to locals.
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