A former sheriff's deputy in Ohio has been found guilty of reckless homicide for the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., a Black man who was carrying sandwiches into his grandmother's home. The verdict was delivered on Thursday in a case that has stirred outrage and calls for police reform.
Mistrial on Murder Charge
The jury could not reach a unanimous decision on the more serious charge of murder, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial on that count. Jason Meade, 47, who is white, argued that the shooting was justified, claiming he saw Goodson holding a gun and turning toward him in the doorway of the Columbus residence. However, no other witnesses corroborated seeing a gun in Goodson's hand, and there was no video footage of the incident.
Details of the Shooting
The shooting occurred in December 2020. Meade testified that he pursued Goodson after the man allegedly waved a gun at him as they passed in their vehicles. According to Goodson's family and prosecutors, the 23-year-old was holding a bag of Subway sandwiches in one hand and his keys in the other, with earbuds in his ears. Evidence suggested the gun was not in his hands but in a flimsy holster under his belt, and it was found under his body with the safety still engaged as he lay mortally wounded on the kitchen floor.
Trial Testimony
This was Meade's second murder trial; the first ended in a mistrial two years ago. He is now the second white law enforcement officer convicted in the killing of a Black man in Ohio since the 2020 death of George Floyd sparked national protests. Meade, a Baptist pastor, retired from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department in 2021. His defense attorney cited his oral and written accounts, asserting the shooting was justified.
A witness, Christopher Corne, testified that Goodson appeared to be dancing and singing in his truck shortly before the shooting. During the first trial, he stated he did not see a gun in Goodson's hand. However, Meade's attorney highlighted inconsistencies, including Corne's description of Goodson's hairstyle, which conflicted with the skullcap he was wearing.
Columbus police Officer Samuel Rippey testified at the second trial that while administering emergency treatment, he saw a gun with an extended magazine lying on the grandmother's floor.
Public Outrage and Broader Context
Goodson's death fueled public anger in Ohio, with banners hung from highway overpasses demanding justice. The judge ordered their removal during the trial. Previous prosecutions of Ohio officers in similar cases have led to only one conviction: Columbus police officer Adam Coy was indicted for murder in the 2020 killing of Andre Hill.
The case also highlights a pattern of Black individuals killed by law enforcement in Ohio, including Tamir Rice (12), Tyre King (13), and Ma'Khia Bryant (16), as well as other adults like John Crawford III, Samuel DuBose, Miles Jackson, Donovan Lewis, Jayland Walker, and Ta'Kiya Young, who was pregnant.
