An Ohio police officer accused of fatally shooting a pregnant woman has been charged with murder.
Ta’Kiya Young, 21, was about 25 weeks pregnant when she died last August. Her unborn daughter was also killed in a police shooting.
Brenden Township Police Officer Connor Grubb will make his first court appearance Wednesday after a grand jury found enough evidence to charge him.
The 29-year-old man has been charged with four counts of murder, two counts of manslaughter and four counts of felonious assault. His lawyer said he fired in self-defense.
Body camera video of last year’s fatal encounter shows police approaching Ms Young in her car and trying to stop her from driving away so they could question her about alleged shoplifting.
In the video, Yang appears to drive towards the police officer who fired the fatal shot, who ordered her to get out of the car.
Investigators said Ms. Young was suspected of stealing alcohol from a Kroger grocery store.
Detailing Mr. Grubb’s self-defense argument, his attorney said: “From a reasonable police officer’s perspective, when there is video evidence that Officer Grubb was hit by a moving vehicle, the evidence will show that we The customer’s actions were justified.
The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) union on Tuesday blasted the indictment as “politically motivated.”
“We firmly believe in a fair justice system that focuses on truth and facts, not politics,” said chapter president Brian Steel.
He added, “Officer Grubb, like all law enforcement officers, must make split-second decisions, a reality all too familiar to those who work to protect our communities.” He added that decisions are often made “in the blink of an eye.” Made under extreme pressure, often in life.” -Threat situation”.
Handout/Courtesy of Walton + Brown, LLPBrendon Township Police Chief John Belford said in response to the indictment that the department is immediately beginning disciplinary proceedings and will review the facts and then determine the best course of action to take against the officer.
“I want to be clear: We are not making any judgment about whether Officer Grubb’s actions were correct or not. We have not seen the evidence,” Chief Belford said.
Sean Walton, a lawyer representing Ms Young’s family, called the arrest a “solemn victory in the pursuit of justice” and “another symbol of the urgent need to reform police conduct and accountability”.
He said: “The actions that led to Takia’s death – unnecessary aggression, the equivalent of a chilling command to ‘obey or die’ – were clearly witnessed by all of us.”
Ms. Young’s grandmother, Nadine Young, told CBS News the past year has been very difficult for the family, including Ms. Young’s two young sons.
“It was painful, like a whirlwind of hurt and pain,” she said.
Video of the encounter on Aug. 24, 2023, shows two officers talking to Ms. Young for about a minute before shooting.
Both officers were in the parking lot responding to an unrelated call.
Ms. Yang is the mother of two boys, one aged six and one three. She was due to give birth in November.
