An Ohio jury delivered a not-guilty verdict for police officer Connor Grubb, concluding the murder and related charges filed against him after the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Ta’Kiya Young in 2023. The decision came on Nov. 21 after roughly eight hours of deliberations spread over two days, closing a closely watched case that centered on a brief but deadly encounter in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store. Young, who was approximately six months pregnant at the time, was accused of shoplifting when the incident unfolded. The announcement of the verdict brought an immediate emotional response from Young’s family, who reacted with shock and sorrow from inside the courtroom gallery.
As the verdict was read, Young’s grandmother, Nadine Young, shouted in anguish, “You killed her and her baby. It’s not right. He gets to walk away free.” The family’s reaction underscored the deep grief surrounding the loss of Young and her unborn daughter. Grubb, who faced six charges including murder, felonious assault, and involuntary manslaughter, showed no visible reaction as the judge confirmed his acquittal. The outcome closed the chapter on the criminal case but left significant questions and emotions unresolved for those closest to Young.
The Fatal Encounter
The events leading to the shooting unfolded on Aug. 24, 2023, and lasted approximately ten seconds. Blendon Township Sgt. Erik Moynihan was assisting a woman locked out of her car when a Kroger employee alerted him to a suspected shoplifter in the parking lot. The employee pointed to Young’s vehicle, identifying her as the person involved. Moynihan testified that he approached the driver’s side and instructed Young to turn off her vehicle and exit, but Young refused to comply. As the interaction continued, body camera footage later presented at trial showed Grubb walking toward the front of Young’s car.
According to the video evidence and images displayed during the proceedings, the vehicle moved forward as Grubb approached, striking him and lifting his feet off the ground. In that moment, Grubb fired a single shot through the windshield, striking Young. She died shortly afterward. Grubb remains on unpaid leave from the Blendon Township Police Department, which previously stated that any internal review of the incident would not begin until the criminal case had concluded.
Family and Community Response
Young left behind two sons, ages 6 and 3 at the time of her death, and she had been expecting a daughter her family said was due that November. Her death prompted a series of peaceful vigils honoring both her life and the life of her unborn daughter. Community members gathered to remember her and to call attention to the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which sparked ongoing discussions about policing and public safety.
After the jury’s decision, the legal team representing Young’s estate released a statement emphasizing the needs and rights of Young’s young sons as they grow up without their mother. “They deserve financial security,” the statement said. “They deserve to grow up in a world where pregnant Black women are not killed by police over shoplifting accusations. And they deserve a legal system that delivers accountability even when a criminal jury cannot.” The statement highlighted the lasting impact the loss will have on Young’s family and the broader conversations her death continues to generate.
Tragic Verdict in Ohio Shooting Case
The jury’s decision to acquit officer Connor Grubb closed the legal proceedings but left Young’s family and community grappling with profound grief. The case drew significant attention due to the circumstances of the shooting and Young’s pregnancy, and its outcome continues to shape discussions about policing, accountability, and the lives affected by the incident.
