The Blendon Township police officer who shot and killed a pregnant woman in the parking lot of a grocery store was indicted on charges of murder, felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter.
The charges are doubled because Ta'Kiya Young was pregnant when Connor Grubb shot and killed her nearly a year ago on Aug. 24, 2023.
Her grandmother Nadine Young reacted to the news Tuesday morning.
"Thank you Jesus. I thank God," Nadine Young said. "I want to see Connor Grubb pay for what he did because it was wrong. It was wrong for him to take her and her baby out of here like he did."
Attorney Sean Walton, who has represented Young's family since the shooting, said the indictment was the right decision.
"The grand jury’s decision, fortunately, reflects the community's collective conscience, recognizing this tragedy for what it truly is — a murder that demands empathy and justice," Walton said.
Young was in a vehicle leaving the grocery store when Grubb confronted her. A Kroger employee had accused her of shoplifting. When the officers approached her car, Grubb pulled out his firearm. Grubb told her to get out of the vehicle. She turned the vehicle to the side before Grubb moved in front of the car and fired.
Grubb fired one shot through the windshield, striking Young in the chest.
Related: Blendon Township Police release body cam footage showing fatal shooting of Ta'Kiya Young
"She said, 'are you going to shoot me?' And he got in front of that car and he shot her. Period. That's how he did. He did her dirty because she didn't get out of the car when he said get the 'F' out the car three times. She didn't get up, get the 'F' out the car, and then he shot my granddaughter. Period. That's what he did," Nadine Young said.
Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford said in a statement his office has begun a disciplinary review process of Grubb, nearly a year after the shooting first occurred.
“Since people who’ve been indicted may not legally possess a firearm, the indictment against him leaves us with no choice but to begin the disciplinary process," Belford said.
WOSU emailed Belford and asked him why the internal investigation didn't begin earlier, to see if Grubb violated internal policies.
Media contact Ryan Stubenrauch responded:
"BCI conducted an independent investigation at the request of Chief Belford. That investigation likely involved dozens of pieces of evidence and numerous witness statements. Although Blendon Township has requested a copy of the investigation, BCI has declined to provide Blendon Township with any details from the investigation while the criminal case is pending. It would be irresponsible for the Chief to evaluate whether Office Grubb acted within policy without those critical details."
Belford said the township trustees will decide on "the necessary disciplinary actions," and that "Ohio law and our contract with the FOP require us to take several administrative steps before we make any decisions."
Walton said the township should fire Grubb immediately, that the township knows everything it needs to know already.
"Everything he did escalated that situation. And that's why Ta’Kiya was murdered. It's not because she did anything, to jump to, to to warrant that murder," Walton said.
Walton said Ta'Kiya Young and her unborn daughter were victims in the case, not Grubb, who the township had called a victim in order to conceal his identity under Marsy's Law.
"Her intent was not to hit him or hurt him. And if you look at the video, he actually moves back in front of the car as she turns it away," Walton said.
Brian Steel, the president of the police union that Grubb belongs to, said prosecutors have a high burden to prove that Grubb acted unreasonably.
"You can indict a ham sandwich, but now when it goes to a trial with a jury of their peers, it's a little different outcome. So we just look forward to the day the officer can have a fair, impartial trial, which he will," Steel said.
Walton said Steel makes excuses for cops when they make bad decisions that lead to unnecessary deaths.
"What culture is is there that allows for an escalation of that magnitude, for an accusation that is that is so minor," Walton said.
He said with four police officers under the FOP union facing murder indictments, it goes to show there is a culture of violence and "bullying" among cops in the area.
"I think it's a it's a bit of a bully mentality," Walton said.
Steel said the indictments were all made by special prosecutors.
"All four of those indictments, the prosecutor hired outside hacks. These people are the equivalent to carpetbaggers. They come into town from out of town with a special agenda, and that's to indict a police officer. When you go to the grand jury, there is no judge in a grand jury," he said.
Steel said the cases have led to a hung jury — in Jason Meade's case, which is being retried; and another was "not guilty," Andrew Mitchell, who was later convicted of federal charges. Two others Ricky Anderson and Adam Coy await trial.
Steel said "if it's found that (Grubb) violated policy, then he should be held accountable for that a policy. If it's found in a court of law that he, he committed these alleged crimes, then he should be held accountable."
This story has been updated.
