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Killing of Ta'Kiya Young

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Killing of Ta'Kiya Young
DateAugust 24, 2023 (2023-08-24)
LocationBlendon Township, Ohio, U.S.
TypeHomicide by shooting, police killing, feticide
ParticipantsTwo unnamed police officers
DeathsTa'Kiya King and unborn child
InquiriesOhio Bureau of Criminal Investigation

On August 24, 2023, Ta'Kiya Young, a 21-year-old pregnant woman, was shot to death by a police officer in Blendon Township, Ohio after her parked vehicle moved forward towards an officer, while police were attempting to question her about accusations of shoplifting from a local grocery store.

Background

Ta'Kiya Young was a 21-year-old mother of two young sons, aged 6 and 3 at the time of her death; she was pregnant with a due date of November 2023. The two officers that were involved have not been identified publicly, with Blendon Township citing Marsy's Law, claiming that the officers may be considered victims of a crime, specifically vehicular assault.[1] The number of years served by the officers has also not been released as the department is small enough for service to be an identifying marker.[2]

According to The Marshall Project, law enforcement agencies in several states have increasingly used victims' rights statutes to shield the identity of officers involved in deadly use-of-force incidents,[1] a trend that has been criticized by advocates of open governance and transparency.[3] Ohio law requires police to withhold names of violent crime victims, including on-duty officers, with Ohio officials citing the law to explain limited release of details related to a number of police shootings.[1][4]

Shooting

Young was sitting in her car outside a Kroger grocery store around 6:30 pm when a store staff member approached nearby police and alleged that Young had stolen alcohol from the store.[5] Young was sitting in a four-door Lexus sedan that did not have a license plate and was parked in a handicap spot.[6] Two police officers approached the car and demanded several times that Young exit the vehicle. One officer stood near the driver's door and another stood in front of the vehicle, with his gun drawn.[7] Young remained behind the wheel and told the officers that she did not steal anything.[8]

After about one minute Young slowly accelerated the vehicle, and an officer fired one shot through the windshield, killing Young and her unborn baby.[9][10] Authorities state that both officers offered assistance to Young after the shooting, with emergency services called within ten seconds of the shooting and a trauma kit was used on Young under two minutes of the shooting.[7] A passerby who was an emergency room doctor supported the police with medical assistance until paramedics arrived and transported Young to the hospital where she and her unborn child died from her injuries.[6]

Body camera footage of the interaction between Young and the officers has been released.[11] An attorney representing Young's family said a witness saw Young put down bottles of alcohol as she left the store.[12] In early September, newly released video footage appeared to show Young putting multiple bottles of alcohol into her purse and a tote bag while out of sight of the cash register. She and the two other women then allegedly left the store without paying. The tote bag full of liquor is apparently visible in police bodycam footage as they drag her injured body from the car.[13]

Aftermath

The Blendon Township police use-of-force policy provides that officers should try to move away from an approaching vehicle instead of firing their weapons.[12] Both of the officers were placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting, although the officer who did not fire his gun has since returned to duty. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.[14]

Response

Attorneys for Young's family demanded a swift indictment of the officer responsible for the killings of Young and her unborn daughter.[15][16] Young's family held a candlelight vigil the day after the shooting outside of her grandmother's home to honor Young and her unborn baby.[6]

Blendon Township Chief of Police John Belford called the situation as tragic for everyone and recognized that the videos' release will create more discussion and anger. A police news release claimed that the officer near the front of the vehicle was "a victim of attempted vehicular assault" and the other, who had a part of his arm in the driver's side window, was "a victim of misdemeanor assault". An official of the police union stated to reporters that; "A weapon is not just a firearm. A weapon is also a 2,000-pound vehicle that somebody puts into gear and is driving at you."[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lartey, Jamiles (9 September 2023). "When Police Kill and Use Victims' Rights Laws to Stay Anonymous". The Marshall Project. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  2. ^ Lagatta, Erin (September 1, 2023). "A pregnant Ohio mother's death by police sparked outrage. What we know about Ta'Kiya Young". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  3. ^ Bellware, Kim (8 September 2023). "Police use a victim's rights law to protect officer who shot Ta'Kiya Young". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  4. ^ Bruner, Bethany (13 July 2023). "Columbus city attorney explains why names, bodycam video from police shootings is limited". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Coroner's office confirms pregnant woman killed in shooting involving police at Blendon Township Kroger". 10tv.com. August 24, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Behrens, Cole (August 26, 2023). "Family of pregnant woman killed in police shooting hold candlelight vigil, seek answers". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  7. ^ a b c Brown, Nicki; McCluskey, Mitchell (2023-09-09). "Surveillance video released Friday shows Ta'Kiya Young inside store then encountering police before fatal shooting". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  8. ^ "Bodycam footage shows fatal shooting of pregnant Black woman by Ohio police - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Levenson, Michael (2023-09-01). "Video Released of Officer Fatally Shooting Pregnant Black Woman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  10. ^ "Bodycam footage shows moments before pregnant woman's fatal shooting by Ohio police officer". NBC News. 2023-09-01. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  11. ^ Matza, Max (2023-09-01). "Bodycam video shows Ohio police fatally shooting pregnant black woman". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  12. ^ a b "Ta'Kiya Young's family urges officer's arrest after video shows him killing the pregnant Black woman". apnews.com. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Additional bodycam footage is released in the death of pregnant Black mother Ta'Kiya Young, Associated Press, September 8, 2023
  14. ^ Hendrickson, Samantha (September 1, 2023). "Pregnant woman's family urges Ohio cop's arrest after video shows him killing her". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "Police in Ohio release body camera video showing officer fatally shooting pregnant woman Ta'Kiya Young". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  16. ^ Brown, Nicki; Sgueglia, Kristina (September 1, 2023). "Ohio police release video of fatal police shooting of pregnant 21-year-old Ta'Kiya Young". CNN. Retrieved September 2, 2023.

External links

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