Release of Body Camera Footage Depicting the Fatal Police Shooting of Pregnant Black Woman Anticipated, Says Ohio Department

The impending public release of body camera footage that captured the final moments of a pregnant Black woman shot dead by police in a parking lot in Ohio last week has been announced. Ta’Kiya Young, a 21-year-old Columbus resident, was declared dead following the August 24 incident that occurred in the vicinity of a grocery store in the suburban area of Blendon Township. Tragically, her unborn daughter also did not survive.

Young, who was suspected of shoplifting, met her fatal end after she reportedly accelerated her vehicle in the direction of a law enforcement officer, according to the police. Sean Walton, the attorney representing the deceased’s family, contends that the delayed release of the footage by the police department is an attempt to mitigate media scrutiny that could arise from potentially incriminating visuals. Walton was unavailable for immediate comments when approached by The Big Big News.

Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford explained that the delay in releasing the footage was necessitated by a limited workforce that was tasked with processing and lawfully redacting portions of the video. The family will be granted access to view the footage prior to its public dissemination, he added.

In a video statement released on August 25, Chief Belford provided a succinct narrative of the incident. According to him, two officers were assisting someone with a locked vehicle when a supermarket employee alerted them about individuals exiting the store with stolen merchandise. Young was identified as one among them, allegedly absconding with bottles of alcohol. As one officer approached the driver’s side of Young’s car and repeatedly commanded her to stop and exit the vehicle, another officer positioned himself in front of the car. Young subsequently accelerated the vehicle, leading the officer in its direct path to fire a shot through the front windshield, Chief Belford recounted.

Details regarding the precise circumstances under which Young was shot remain undisclosed. Following the shooting, her vehicle continued for approximately 50 feet before halting on the sidewalk adjacent to the grocery store. Officers shattered the car window, extricated Young, and commenced emergency medical aid with the assistance of an on-site emergency room physician, stated Belford.

The identities, ages, and ethnic backgrounds of the involved officers are yet to be disclosed. They have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a standard procedure in instances of police application of lethal force.

Ta’Kiya Young was slated to give birth to a daughter in November and was already a mother to two sons, aged 6 and 3. A crowdfunding initiative to cover her funeral expenses has amassed nearly $7,000 thus far. Family and friends convened for a private vigil in Young’s memory the day after her demise, where they released balloons and ignited candles spelling out “RIP Kiya.”

Nadine Young, the grandmother of the deceased, eulogized her granddaughter as a devoted family member and a jovial elder sister and mother. “She was extremely eager to welcome her daughter. Already a mother to her two young boys, she was elated at the prospect of having a girl. Her absence will be deeply felt,” Nadine Young lamented at a press conference on Wednesday.

The article is authored by Samantha Hendrickson, a member of the Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, a non-profit program committed to placing journalists in local newsrooms to cover underreported issues.

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More about Fatal Police Shooting of Ta’Kiya Young

• Blendon Township Police Department Statements
• Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation
• Sean Walton, Family Attorney Profile
• Crowdfunding for Ta’Kiya Young’s Funeral Expenses
• Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative
• Ohio State Laws on Body Camera Footage
• National Statistics on Police Shootings
• Articles on Police Use of Force and Legal Implications