A police officer from central Ohio has been charged with murder and additional crimes following the shooting death of a pregnant woman in August 2023 at a Kroger grocery store parking lot.

Ta’Kiya Young, just 21 years old, was approached by officers who suspected her of stealing liquor from the store in Blendon Township, close to the Columbus suburb of Westerville. As Young tried to escape in her car, an officer fired his weapon, fatally wounding both her and her unborn child.

The tragic loss of Young, who was Black, incited anger and sorrow throughout a nation still reeling from the protests following George Floyd’s murder three years earlier. In the wake of her shooting, protests and vigils were held, with family and activists demanding accountability for the officer involved.

Now, just over a week before the anniversary of Young’s death, officer Connor Grubb has been indicted by a grand jury in Franklin County, Ohio, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch, part of the YSL News Network.

Here’s what you need to know regarding Young’s death and Grubb’s indictment on Tuesday.

Who Was Ta’Kiya Young?

Ta’Kiya Young was a 21-year-old mother to two sons, aged 6 and 3 at the time she was killed. At the time of her death, she was also pregnant with a daughter due in November, according to her family.

Her passing led to multiple peaceful memorials to honor her memory and that of her unborn child.

In the days following her death, community activists gathered at the Kroger grocery store to call for justice and accountability regarding the incident. Many of Young’s loved ones also came together shortly after her death to hold a candlelight vigil at her grandmother’s home to commemorate her and her child.

At Young’s funeral on September 7, mourners wore her favorite colors, pink and white, to honor her memory.

Details Surrounding Ta’Kiya Young’s Death

Within a week of Young’s death, the Blendon Township police released body camera footage showing the interactions between the officers and Young prior to the shooting on August 24, 2023.

On the day of the incident, the officers were at the Kroger parking lot for an unrelated matter when a store employee reported that Young and others were allegedly stealing items, including liquor.

The body cam footage captures Young already inside her four-door sedan when one officer approaches from the driver’s side while the other approaches the front of the car. One officer instructs her to exit the vehicle, to which Young partially rolls down her window and responds, “for what?”

The footage later shows Young driving her car forward and colliding with The officer positioned in front of her car, later recognized as Grubb, was seen with his feet lifted off the ground as he discharged a single round through the windshield. Young’s vehicle kept moving ahead until it collided with the building.

An onlooker, who was an emergency room doctor, helped the police at the site until paramedics arrived to take Young to Mount Carmel St. Ann’s hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

An autopsy later verified that Young died due to gunshot wounds sustained in the chest. The police later indicated that officers were unaware of Young’s pregnancy.

After the shooting incident, police from Blendon Township requested an external investigation by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which is a routine process for police departments in Ohio when an officer is involved in a shooting that injures or kills someone.

Who is Connor Grubb, the officer who shot Young?

Grubb, who is 29 years old, has been part of the Blendon Township police force since 2019, according to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy’s records.

This is the only police department Grubb has ever been with in Ohio. He and the other officer who interacted with Young that day were initially placed on paid leave, but as of Monday, Grubb has been reinstated as a full-time officer.

In response to the news of Grubb’s indictment, Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford stated in a video message that they are initiating the disciplinary process “immediately.”

“I want to make it clear: We’re not judging whether Officer Grubb acted appropriately,” Belford emphasized. “We have yet to review the evidence.”

Before joining the police force in Blendon Township, Grubb participated in the law enforcement program at the Delaware Area Career Center.

What charges has Grubb faced in connection with Young’s death?

Grubb is facing four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and two counts of involuntary manslaughter following an indictment filed on Tuesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Two of the murder charges pertain to Young’s death, while the other two relate to the death of her unborn child.

According to Ohio law, an individual can face multiple charges related to different interpretations of a death event. In Grubb’s case, all four charges stem from his alleged role in the deaths of Young and her unborn child as a direct result of a felonious assault, often referred to as felony murder.

Although the case against Grubb was reviewed by a Franklin County grand jury, the prosecution was led by the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s office, which is located west of Columbus. This external review was requested by the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office due to a potential conflict of interest, given their responsibility for representing Blendon Township in any civil lawsuits.

While Young’s family has not yet initiated a civil lawsuit, they could do so anytime within the next two years from the date of her death.

What reactions have surfaced regarding Grubb’s indictment for murder?

• Columbus attorney Sean Walton, representing Young’s family, remarked: “Ta’Kiya’s life and that of her daughter were brutally taken away, underscoring the urgent need for reform in police practices and accountability.”

• Nadine Young, the grandmother of Young, expressed at a news conference on Tuesday: “It was wrong for him to remove her and that baby from this world.”

• Mark Collins and Kaitlyn Stephens, attorneys who have represented police officers indicted for on-duty shootings, stated on Tuesday that “when analyzed from the perspective of a reasonable police officer, the evidence will reveal that our client’s actions were warranted, especially considering that Officer Grubb was struck by a moving vehicle . This case is about not just whether Connor Grubb decided to use deadly force, but the rationale behind that decision.”
• Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, voiced disappointment over Grubb’s indictment, stating, “Like all law enforcement personnel, Officer Grubb had to make an instantaneous decision .These decisions occur under extreme stress and often in life-threatening situations, aimed at protecting the public as well as themselves.”

What’s on the horizon? Details about Grubb’s upcoming court appearance

The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s office has confirmed that a warrant for Grubb’s arrest was issued in line with the indictment.

Grubb is set to make his first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon, as indicated by an online court schedule.