COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blendon Township trustees voted on Thursday morning to keep the officer charged in the fatal shooting of Ta'Kiya Young on administrative leave instead of firing him.
The trustees voted unanimously to continue officer Connor Grubb's employment during a special session.
Grubb is charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the death of Young, who was pregnant.
According to a letter from the trustees, only the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and special prosecutors have access to witness interviews and other evidence. Because of this, the trustees said they cannot make a fair decision about Grubb's employment until they have reviewed the same material.
"Officer Grubb is innocent until proven guilty," the letter says. "After our executive session, we unanimously voted to continue Officer Grubb’s paid administrative leave until we have all of the necessary information."
Young was suspected of stealing alcohol on Aug. 24, 2023, when Grubb and a fellow officer approached her car. She lowered her window part-way and the other officer ordered her out. Instead, she drove forward toward Grubb, who fired a single bullet through her windshield into her chest.
Bodycam footage of the encounter showed an officer at the driver’s side window telling Young she was accused of shoplifting and ordering her out of the car. Young protested and both officers cursed at her and yelled at her to get out. Young could be heard asking them, “Are you going to shoot me?”
Then she turned the steering wheel to the right, the car rolled slowly forward and Grubb fired his gun. Moments later, after the car came to a stop against a Kroger grocery store, they broke the driver’s side window. Police said they tried to save her life, but she was mortally wounded.
A Franklin County grand jury indicted Grubb last month. The judge gave Grubb a $250,000 bond as well as a $25,000 recognizance bond after pleading not guilty. He posted bond the same day and was released from custody.
Grubb has been a full-time officer with the township since 2019.
