Lawsuit Alleges ‘Reckless Escalation’ by officer in Shooting Death of Pregnant ohio Woman
Blendon Township, OH – A lawsuit filed this week alleges that a Blendon Township police officer who fatally shot Takiya Young, a 26-year-old pregnant woman, in August 2023, “recklessly escalated” his response and had a history of misconduct. The suit claims the officer, Connor Grubb, acted without reasonable inquiry, singling out Young and treating her as a criminal despite the minor nature of the initial incident.
Young, who was 25 weeks pregnant with her third child, and her unborn daughter were pronounced dead at a hospital after being shot through the windshield of her car. Grubb was indicted last year on charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and assault, and has pleaded not guilty. A hearing in his criminal case is scheduled for next week.
The lawsuit asserts that Grubb’s actions stemmed from a pattern of aggressive behavior and a lack of meaningful discipline. It details multiple complaints filed against him dating back to June 2023,including allegations of physical intimidation,improper arrest,failure to appear in court,policy violations,and harassment,as reported by WBNS-TV.
According to reports, the incident began when Young moved her car to the right, and Grubb allegedly perceived this as a threat, discharging his weapon. Grubb’s attorney, Mark Collins, stated following the officer’s arraignment that the shooting was justified because Grubb feared serious physical injury or death from being hit by the car.
The current lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction to prevent policies that allegedly deprived Young and her unborn child of their constitutional rights. Young’s estate also filed a separate lawsuit last month against Grubb, Kroger Company, and a Kroger employee, alleging wrongful death and negligence in Franklin County.
Blendon Township officials, lawyers for Grubb, and a Kroger spokesperson have been contacted for comment.
