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Officer Acquitted in Fatal Shooting of Pregnant Woman
Blendon Township, OH – A jury has found Blendon Township Police Officer Connor Grubb not guilty on all charges related to the August 2023 fatal shooting of Ta’Kiya Young, a 21-year-old pregnant Black woman. The verdict, delivered Friday, cleared Grubb of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and felonious assault.
The incident occurred in a Kroger grocery store parking lot where Young was suspected of shoplifting liquor. Body camera footage captured Grubb firing his weapon as Young drove her vehicle in his direction. Young, who was seven months pregnant at the time, and her unborn child both died.
The courtroom was filled with emotion as the verdict was read. Nadine Young, Ta’Kiya Young’s grandmother, expressed her distress, stating, “It’s not right.
He’s walking away free. It’s not right.”
She was subsequently escorted out of the courtroom.
Sean Walton Jr., the Young family’s attorney, expressed disappointment but emphasized that the jury acted within its bounds. “The jury didn’t do anything wrong here,” Walton stated during a press conference. “Connor Grubb is the one who pulled the trigger; Connor Grubb is the one who has us all here right now.”
Following the verdict, Grubb embraced his legal team and departed the courtroom with his family. His attorney, Mark Collins, addressed the media, thanking the jurors for their service.
“He took a life on duty and realized another’s life after that. To walk around with that — and that is a difficult situation,” Collins said, noting Grubb’s absence from the press conference.
The Young family announced their intention to pursue a civil lawsuit, stating, “Our civil case will prove what the jury could not find beyond a reasonable doubt. We will show that Grubb created the danger by positioning himself in front of her vehicle with his weapon drawn.”
Collins also issued a statement advocating for changes in legal procedures, suggesting that grand juries should hear evidence from defense teams to prevent indictments in cases where officers’ actions are justified.
During closing arguments, the prosecution, represented by Erin Claypool of the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, argued that Grubb’s actions demonstrated he knew his conduct would cause serious harm. Claypool highlighted Blendon Township Police Department guidelines that advise officers to move out of the path of an approaching vehicle rather than discharge their firearms.
Conversely, Grubb’s defense attorney, Mark Collins, urged the jury to set aside emotions and focus solely on the facts, despite the tragic nature of Young’s death. The defense maintained that Young’s vehicle constituted a deadly force when driven towards the officer, making Grubb’s use of force “objectively reasonable.” Collins also criticized the prosecution’s case, describing it as weak and reliant on paid expert witnesses.
In rebuttal, the prosecution cited the testimony of Officer Erick Moynihan, who was present during the incident. Moynihan stated he did not perceive Young as a threat and was surprised when Grubb fired his weapon. The prosecution suggested Grubb had a “motivation” to claim fear for his life to avoid accountability.
Prior to the verdict, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Young dismissed two counts of felonious assault and two counts of felony murder pertaining to Young’s unborn child, citing a lack of evidence that Grubb knew Young was pregnant.
According to a statement read by the prosecution during the trial, Grubb said he pointed his gun at Young after she failed to comply with his partner’s commands to exit the vehicle, and he felt the car strike his legs. Body camera footage shows Young refusing to leave the car, asking officers, “Are you going to shoot me?” The video then shows Young turning the steering wheel and rolling forward, at which point Grubb, already in front of the vehicle, fired a single fatal shot through the windshield into her chest.
Young’s vehicle subsequently crashed into a nearby building. She and her unborn daughter were pronounced dead at a hospital after officers attempted life-saving aid.
The Young family’s statement concluded, “Ta’Kiya’s life mattered. Her daughter’s life mattered. And we will prove it.”