Police Officer Indicted on Murder Charges

A police officer in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, has been indicted by a grand jury on murder charges for the killing of a pregnant woman suspected of shoplifting, according to the Montgomery County prosecutor’s office.

Ta’Kiya Young, 21, was fatally shot inside her vehicle by Officer Connor Grubb in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store in Blendon Township on August 24, 2023. Tragically, her unborn child did not survive.

Charges Faced by Officer Grubb

• Four counts of murder
• Four counts of felonious assault
• Two counts of involuntary manslaughter

The prosecutor's office stated, "While it is concerning that an officer sworn to uphold the law has been indicted for homicide charges, no one is above the law."

Body-camera footage and surveillance video of the shooting showed that Officer Grubb fired a single shot into Young's windshield when her car began moving in his direction, killing her.

Young family attorney Sean Walton remarked, "Today marks a solemn victory in the pursuit of justice for Ta’Kiya Young and her unborn daughter, whose lives were tragically and unjustly taken."

Call for Police Reform

Walton continued, "The actions that led to the death of Ta’Kiya — the unnecessary aggression, the chilling commands that amounted to ‘comply or die’ — were there for us all to witness. Ta’Kiya’s life and that of her daughter were extinguished in an act of brutality, becoming yet another symbol of the urgent need for reform in police conduct and accountability."

An arraignment for Officer Grubb has been scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m.

What do you think?

• Do you believe Officer Grubb's actions were justified?
• What changes would you like to see in police conduct to prevent similar incidents?
• Should police officers receive different training to handle situations involving pregnant women?