Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford called the shooting a tragedy.
Ms. Young's family is understandably very upset and grieving," he said in a statement released Friday morning. "While none of us can fully understand the depths of their pain, all of us can remember them in our prayers and give them the time and space to deal with this heartbreaking turn of events."
Young's father, grandmother and other relatives watched the video before its release and delivered a statement Friday through Walton.
"It is undeniable that Ta'Kiya's death was not only avoidable, but also a gross misuse of power and authority," the statement said....
...In his interview with the AP on Friday, Walton denied that Young had stolen anything from the grocery store. He said his firm found a witness who saw Young put down bottles of alcohol as she left the store.
"The bottles were left in the store," he said. "So when she's in her car denying that, that's accurate. She did not commit any theft, and so these officers were not even within their right to place her under arrest, let alone take her life."...
...The Blendon Township police department's use of force policy states that officers should try to move away from an approaching vehicle instead of firing their weapons. An officer should only shoot when he or she "reasonably believes there are no other reasonable means available to avert the imminent threat of the vehicle, or if deadly force other than the vehicle is directed at the officer or others."...
...Young was expected to give birth to a daughter in November. Family and friends held a private vigil a day after Young was killed, releasing balloons and lighting candles spelling out "RIP Kiya." An online effort to pay her funeral expenses has raised over $7,000.(<---7 months pregnant for the slow JPP members/Trumpers)
