Authorities in Minnesota have dropped all charges against the trooper involved in the fatal shooting of motorist Ricky Cobb

A county attorney in Minnesota has rendered a decision to dismiss the charges against a state trooper who is being investigated for the fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II, a black motorist.

Sunday evening, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty made the announcement of the decision, according to Fox News.

"Ricky Cobb II should still be alive today," Moriarty said in a statement. "There are so many points at which Mr. Londregan could have handled the situation differently, and if he had, Ricky Cobb might still be alive.

"But that is not the question before us as prosecutors; the only question is whether we can still prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred given this new evidence. The answer to that question is no, and I would violate my ethical duties if I nonetheless continued with the case."

The Event

On July 31, 2017, officers stopped Cobb, 33, on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis due to the lack of headlights on his vehicle.

Then, they discovered that the Spring Lake Park man was wanted in adjacent Ramsey County for violating a protection order.

Trooper Ryan Londregan, 27, discharged two shots at Cobb as he attempted to flee the vehicle despite being commanded to exit by troopers.

After Londregan's defense team disclosed prospective testimony during an April court hearing that the trooper believed Cobb was reaching for a firearm and that a Minnesota State Patrol trainer stated he never instructed officers to refrain from shooting into a moving vehicle, Moriarty filed a notice to dismiss the charges.

Evidence Gathered

The evidence rendered it unfeasible for prosecutors to establish that Londregan's conduct did not constitute an authorized use of force by a peace officer, according to a statement issued by the county attorney's office on Sunday.

Cobb's loved ones were shocked and appalled by the ruling.

"Regardless of how many absurd excuses Trooper Londregan gives to try and absolve himself, he shot and killed Ricky Cobb II at point blank range without any justification and, instead of prosecuting him for murder, the County Attorney’s Office has bowed to political pressure to drop the charges," a statement from Cobb family attorneys obtained by Fox News Digital said.

"Apparently, all you have to do to get away with murder is to bully the prosecutors enough and the charges will just go away."

From the State

The statement added: "the state of Minnesota has repeatedly demonstrated that Black lives simply are not valued whether it’s Daunte Demetrius Wright, Philando Castile, or Ricky Cobb II."

Londregan's counsel Chris Madel told the Star Tribune, in reference to the decision to drop the charges, "It’s about g------ time. That’s going to be about my only on-the-record comment."

According to the video revealed by investigators and prosecutors, Cobb raised his hand as Londregan's accomplice clutched to the passenger door.

The weapon was in fact in Cobb's car. Although prosecutors reevaluated the evidence in light of the defense team's claims, Moriarty told the Star Tribune that no proof of his intent to seize it exists at this time.