US police officer charged with fatally shooting pregnant woman

A police officer accused of shooting a pregnant woman in Ohio has been charged with her murder.

Ta’Kiya Young, 21, was around 25 weeks pregnant at the time of her death last August. Her unborn daughter also died in the police shooting.

On Tuesday, a grand jury in the city of Columbus found sufficient evidence to file charges against Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb for murder, involuntary manslaughter and assault.

Bodycam video of the fatal encounter released last year showed police attempting to stop Ms Young from driving away so they could question her about alleged shoplifting.

In the video she appeared to drive toward the officer who fired the fatal shot as he commanded her to exit the car.

Ms Young was suspected of shoplifting alcohol from a Kroger grocery store, investigators say.

Lawyers for Mr Grubb said he fired in self-defence.

“When viewed through the eyes of a reasonable police officer, the evidence will show that our client’s actions were justified, when there is video evidence that Officer Grubb was being hit by a moving vehicle,” said his lawyers Mark Collins and Kaitlyn Stephens.

The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) labour union on Tuesday slammed the indictment as “politically motivated”.

“We stand firm in advocating for an impartial justice system that focuses on truth and facts, not politics,” said chapter president Brian Steel.

“Like all law enforcement officers, Officer Grubb had to make a split-second decision, a reality all too familiar for those who serve to protect our communities,” he also said, adding decisions are often made under “extreme pressure and often in life-threatening situations”.

Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford said in a video statement that it was immediately beginning a disciplinary process where it would review the facts and then decide the best course of action against the officer.

“I want to be very clear: We’re not passing any judgment on whether Officer Grubb acted properly. We haven’t seen the evidence,” Chief Belford said.

Ms Young’s grandmother, Nadine Young, told CBS News that the past year has been very difficult for the family, including Ms Young’s two young sons.

“It’s been agony, it’s been like a whirlwind of hurt and pain,” she said.

Video from the 24 August 2023 encounter shows the two officers speaking with Ms Young for about one minute before the shot is fired.

Both officers were in the car park for an unrelated call.

Ms Young was the mother of two boys, aged six and three. She was due to give birth in November.