21yearold pregnant woman killed during police stop in Ohio, USA
Police in Blendon, Ohio, released body camera footage Friday (1) from officers involved in a stop that ended in the death of Ta’Kiya Young, a 21yearold woman who was six months pregnant .
The operation took place last Thursday in a parking lot. Two police officers responded to a call at the facility. At one point, a person who police reported was an employee of the location reportedly yelled that the girl had stolen items and was running away.
As she entered the car, one of the police officers went to the vehicle door and asked her to get out and introduce herself. The other was right in front of him, blocking the way.
Ta’Kiya didn’t understand the situation and asked himself several times the reason for the approach.
The police officer at her window tells Young that she has been accused of robbery. She protests and he again tells her to get out of the car.
Then she turns the steering wheel to the right and accelerates towards the police officer standing in front of her. The officer in front of the vehicle shoots Young through the windshield and seconds later his car continues straight until it hits the wall of the supermarket.
Young’s family members were able to view the footage before its release and issued a statement Friday through his attorney, Sean Walton.
“After viewing all of the footage, there is no denying that Ta’Kiya’s death was not only preventable, but also a serious abuse of power and authority,” the statement said.
The names, ages and races of the two officers were not released. They are on paid administrative leave while the Ohio Department of Criminal Investigation investigates the incident, which is common practice when police use deadly force.
1 of 1 A police officer’s body camera image shows the moment Ta’Kiya Young reacts to the approach that would take his life Photo: Blendon Township Police via AP A police officer’s body camera image shows the moment Ta’Kiya Young reacts to the approach that would cost him his life Photo: Blendon Township Police via AP