An Ohio police officer accused of shooting a pregnant woman has been charged with murder.
Takiya Young, 21, was 25 weeks pregnant when she died in August last year. Her fetus was also killed in a police shooting.
On Tuesday, a Columbus grand jury found enough evidence to indict Blendon Township Police Officer Connor Grubb on charges of murder, manslaughter and assault.
Bodycam footage of the deadly encounter released last year showed police trying to stop Young from driving away in her car and questioning her about the shoplifting.
In the footage, she is seen driving toward the officer who fired the fatal shots, and the officer orders her to get out of the car.
Investigators said Young was accused of stealing alcohol from a Kroger grocery store.
Mr. Grub's attorney said he fired the gun in self-defense.
“To the eye of a reasonable law enforcement officer, given the video evidence showing Officer Grubb being struck by a moving vehicle, there would be evidence that our client's actions were justified,” said his attorneys, Mark Collins and Kaitlyn Stephens.
The local chapter of the Police Officers' Federation (FOP) union denounced the indictment Tuesday as “politically motivated.”
“We stand steadfastly in advocating for a fair judicial system that focuses on truth and facts, not politics,” said Branch Manager Brian Steele.
He also said, “Like all law enforcement officers, Officer Grubb had to make split-second decisions, a reality all too familiar to those who work to protect our communities,” adding that decisions are often made “under extremely stressful, often life-threatening circumstances.”
Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford said in a video statement that disciplinary proceedings will be initiated immediately and that they will review the facts to determine the best course of action against the officer.
“I want to be very clear: We are not making a judgment on whether Officer Grubb acted appropriately. We have not seen the evidence,” said Inspector Belford.
Sean Walton, an attorney representing Young's family, called the arrest “a solemn victory in the quest for justice” and “yet another example of the urgent need for reform in police conduct and accountability.”
“The actions that led to Takiya's death, the unnecessary aggression, the chilling command to 'obey or die' were horrifyingly vivid for all of us to witness,” he said.
Young's grandmother, Nadine Young, told CBS News that last year was a very difficult year for her family, including Young's two young sons.
“It was excruciating, it was like a whirlwind of hurt and pain,” she said.
Video footage from the encounter on August 24, 2023 shows the two officers talking to Mr. Young for about a minute before shots were fired.
The two officers were in the parking lot when they received an unrelated call.
Mrs. Young was the mother of two sons, aged 6 and 3. She was due to give birth in November.
