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A Franklin County jury has found Connor Grubb, a former Blendon Township police officer, not guilty of murder and reckless homicide in the 2023 shooting death of Ta'Kiya Young. The verdict, delivered on November 21, 2025, concluded a highly publicized trial that centered on the officer's use of deadly force against the 21-year-old pregnant Black woman.
The charges stemmed from an incident on August 24, 2023, outside a Kroger grocery store in a Columbus suburb. Officers, including Grubb, approached Young in her vehicle after she was accused of shoplifting bottles of alcohol. Body camera footage presented during the trial showed Grubb positioned in front of Young's car, ordering her to get out. As her vehicle began to move forward, Grubb fired a single shot through the windshield, which proved fatal for both Young and her unborn daughter.
Prosecutors argued that Grubb was not in imminent danger and could have stepped aside from the slow-moving vehicle, contending his use of force was unnecessary and excessive. However, the defense maintained that Grubb acted in self-defense, fearing for his life as the car accelerated towards him. His attorney, Mark Collins, stated that the car was being used as a deadly weapon and that Grubb's actions were justified under the circumstances. The jury ultimately sided with the defense, and Grubb was acquitted on all counts after several hours of deliberation.
The verdict was met with anguish from Young's family, who had called for accountability. Through their attorney, Sean Walton, family members expressed their devastation and sense of betrayal by the justice system. The case drew national attention, reigniting debates over police brutality and racial bias in policing, particularly concerning the events of the fatal encounter in the Kroger parking lot. Following the acquittal, family and activists have called for peaceful protests. A separate federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Young's estate against the township and its former police chief remains pending.
