Closing Arguments in Officer's Murder Trial for Shooting Pregnant Woman

Wed Nov 19 2025 15:23:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The trial of an Ohio police officer charged with murder after the shooting death of a pregnant Black mother enters its final phase with closing arguments set to begin.

Prosecutors argue that Ta’Kiya Young posed no threat when she was shot by Officer Connor Grubb, who faces murder charges after the incident in a supermarket parking lot. The trial has featured bodycam footage and varied testimonies, with Grubb's defense claiming his actions were justifiable. The case has sparked emotional responses from the victim's family, who hope for justice as they confront the toll of the proceedings.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Closing arguments in the murder trial of an Ohio officer charged in the shooting death of a pregnant Black mother are set for Wednesday.

Prosecutors have told jurors that 21-year-old Ta’Kiya Young wasn’t a threat when she was shot. Defense attorneys for Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb argue that her vehicle, when accelerated towards Grubb, justified his use of force, which they claim was “objectively reasonable.”

Grubb is charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, and felonious assault following the incident on August 24, 2023. The judge has dismissed four counts regarding the death of Young’s unborn daughter after the defense argued successfully that the prosecution failed to prove Grubb was aware of her pregnancy.

After almost two weeks of trial, both sides rested their cases on Tuesday. Significant evidence included bodycam footage depicting the moments leading up to the shooting and expert testimonies on use of force. The family of Young has been vocal throughout the trial, expressing expectations that Grubb would take the stand, which he did not.

Grubb and another officer confronted Young outside a Kroger where she was accused of shoplifting alcohol. Young's insistence on staying in her car escalated the situation, leading to Grubb's decision to fire a single shot through her windshield, which resulted in her death as well as that of her unborn child.

Confronted with the aftermath of this incident, Young’s family, including her grandmother and aunt, expressed their desire for closure, emphasizing the emotional and psychological toll the trial process has taken on them.