Ricky Cobb II

In the early morning hours of 31 July 2023, Ricky Cobb II, a 33-year-old African American man and father of five children, was one of the victims of police violence. Cobb was shot and killed by a Minnesota, USA, police officer during a traffic stop.

According to police, Cobb was pulled over because his taillights were not working. During the stop, police say, it was discovered that Cobb was a wanted man. Surveillance footage shows that after Cobb refused to get out of the car when asked by the officer, who had no arrest warrant, the officer opened the door, pulled out a gun, pointed it at Cobb, shouting: “Get out of the car now!”. The police officer then fired two shots at Cobb, hitting him. It is unclear whether Cobb started to pull away before the shots or after. Bleeding and dying, Cobb drove his vehicle for about a quarter of a mile before crashing into the centre divider of the motorway.

Cobb’s family has demanded that the police officers involved in the shooting be fired and charged. Octavia Ruffin told reporters that her brother was “a good man … a provider for all of us.” Police said the investigation will take at least 60 days, after which a Hennepin County grand jury may be convened to consider charges.