Walton also criticised police for not releasing the video footage for more than a week after the shooting.
A video grab released by Ohio police shows the officer pointing a gun the minute Young tries to steer the vehicle to the right. Pic/AFP
Ohio authorities on Friday released bodycam video showing a police officer fatally shooting Ta’Kiya Young in her car in what her family denounced as a “gross misuse of power and authority” against the pregnant Black mother.
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Sean Walton, an attorney representing Young’s family, said the video clearly shows that the August 24 shooting of the 21-year-old woman was unjustified and he called for the officer to be fired and charged immediately. Walton also criticised police for not releasing the video footage for more than a week after the shooting.
“Ta’Kiya’s family is heartbroken," Walton said in an interview with a news agency. “The video did nothing but confirm their fears that Ta'Kiya was murdered unjustifiably... and it was just heart breaking for them to see Ta’Kiya having her life taken away under such ridiculous circumstances.”
A spokesman for the police union said calls to charge the officer before an investigation is complete are premature. The officer is on paid administrative leave, while the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation examines the shooting, which is standard practice.
The video shows an officer at the driver’s side window telling Young she has been accused of theft and repeatedly demanding that she get out of the car. A second officer is standing in front of the car.
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Young protests, and the first officer repeats his demand. Young then turns the steering wheel to her right and the car moves toward the officer standing in front of it, who fires his gun through the windshield.
Young’s sedan then drifts into the grocery store’s brick wall.
Officers then break the driver's side window, which Belford said was to get Young out of the car and render medical aid, though footage of medical assistance was not provided.
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