COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio police officer was acquitted of all charges Friday in the fatal shooting of Ta’Kiya Young, a 21-year-old pregnant Black woman accused of shoplifting, a verdict that prompted anguished cries from her family and reignited debate over police use of force.
Blendon Township Officer Connor Grubb was found not guilty of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and felonious assault. The decision, delivered by a Franklin County judge, means Grubb will not face prison for the August 2023 shooting that killed Young and her unborn daughter.
The case hinged on body camera footage that showed Grubb and his partner confronting Young in her parked car outside a Kroger grocery store. After a tense exchange where Young repeatedly refused to exit the vehicle, she turned her steering wheel and the car began to slowly roll forward. Grubb, who was standing directly in front of the car with his gun drawn, fired a single shot through the windshield, striking Young in the chest.
In the courtroom, Young’s grandmother collapsed into sobs, shouting, “It’s not right! This is not right!” as the judge dismissed Grubb.
A Clash of Narratives
The prosecution argued the shooting was an unjustified and fatal escalation. Sean Walton, an attorney for the Young family, called the verdict “an American tragedy” that “normalizes” irrational fear by police.
The defense contended that Grubb acted in self-defense. His attorney, Mark Collins, stated that Grubb felt the vehicle hit his legs and lift him, forcing a split-second decision. While expressing that Grubb is “relieved,” Collins acknowledged the officer would carry the weight of taking a life “for the rest of his life.”
The judge had earlier dismissed four charges related to the death of Young’s fetus, ruling there was no proof Grubb knew she was seven months pregnant.
For Young’s family, the legal battle is not over. They have vowed to continue a civil lawsuit against the township, while her grandmother now raises Young’s two sons, aged 8 and 5.
By James Kisoo
