A Minnesota trooper who fatally shot a 33-year-old motorist during a July traffic stop was charged Wednesday with murder, USA Today reports. Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Ryan Londregan was also charged with first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Ricky Cobb II, said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. The punishment for second-degree unintentional murder under Minnesota sentencing guidelines is between 128 months and five years. Moriarty said Londregan did not follow his training during the deadly incident, which was captured on body camera footage. “Our hearts are with Ricky Cobb’s family today, who are grieving an unimaginable loss,” Moriarty said. “I know that they are devastated and will continue to feel this loss for the rest of their lives.
Londregan’s attorney, Chris Madel, called the trooper a "hero" and criticized Moriarty in a video statement. "This county attorney is literally out of control," Madel said. "Open season on law enforcement must end, and it’s going to end with this case." After Cobb's death, Gov. Tim Walz said on social media he spoke with Cobb's mother and promised a "swift, thorough investigation." Moriarty asked the Minnesota Public Safety Department’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension prioritize the investigation. Black Lives Matter Twin Cities Metro, the Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota and Cobb’s relatives gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center in August to demand that troopers involved in Cobb’s death be fired and charged.