Former Ohio Deputy Jason Meade Convicted of Reckless Homicide in Casey Goodson Jr. Shooting
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jason Meade, a former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy, was found guilty of reckless homicide on Thursday in the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., a 23-year-old Black man. The verdict comes after a highly contentious trial that lasted nearly three weeks and marked Meade’s second trial for the 2020 incident.
Meade, 47, was also charged with murder, but the jury could not reach a unanimous decision, leading to a mistrial on that count. The jury deliberated for approximately seven hours before delivering the verdict.
The shooting occurred on December 4, 2020, when Meade, who is white, claimed he saw Goodson holding a gun and turning toward him in the doorway of his grandmother’s home in Columbus. Meade fired six shots, striking Goodson five times in the back and once in the side.
However, no witnesses testified to seeing Goodson with a gun, and no video footage captured the shooting. Prosecutors argued that Goodson’s firearm, which he was licensed to carry, was found in a holster under his belt, with its safety mechanism engaged, as he lay mortally wounded on the kitchen floor.
The case has drawn national attention, particularly in the wake of George Floyd’s killing and subsequent calls for police reform. Goodson’s death sparked outrage in Ohio, with banners demanding justice hung from highway overpasses.
Tamala Payne, Goodson’s mother, expressed mixed emotions following the verdict. “I would still like him to be convicted of murder, because that’s what he did. But we are equally as happy that there’s a conviction regardless, because he’s guilty,” she said. “It gives us peace, and now I’m sure I speak for my family when I say Casey can rest.”
Sean Walter, the Goodson family’s attorney, praised the prosecutors for their dedication to the case. “It’s not easy to convict a police officer of any charge,” he said. “This has been a bipartisan effort from day one, involving the DOJ and FBI, and the dignity they showed this family has been very impactful.”
Meade, a retired Marine and Baptist pastor, testified that he pursued Goodson after allegedly seeing him wave a gun while driving. However, witnesses stated that Goodson was holding a bag of Subway sandwiches and his keys, listening to music through earbuds, at the time of the shooting.
Christopher Corne, a witness who testified for the prosecution, described Goodson as appearing to dance and sing in his truck shortly before the incident. He also confirmed he did not see a gun in Goodson’s hand.
The case has reignited debates over policing and racial justice in Ohio, where only one other white officer—Adam Coy—has been convicted in the killing of a Black person since 2020. Goodson’s death adds to a troubling pattern of fatal shootings involving Black individuals by law enforcement in the state, including Tamir Rice, Tyre King, and Ma’Khia Bryant, among others.
Brian Steel, President of FOP Lodge #9, criticized the verdict, describing Meade as a “25-year veteran, a U.S. Marine who fought for this country.” He called the outcome “kind of a joke” and lamented the perceived disparity in justice for officers versus civilians.
Meade’s sentencing is pending, but the conviction marks a significant moment in Ohio’s ongoing struggle with police accountability.
— Reported by Nexio News
