Former Deputy Jason Meade Pleads Not Guilty to Murder Charges
Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial of a former sheriff’s deputy charged in the 2020 fatal shooting of a 23-year-old Black man who was entering his grandmother’s home in Columbus, Ohio. The trial begins more than three years after Casey Goodson Jr.’s death.
The Case
Jason Meade, a former deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), was charged with murder and reckless homicide in connection with the shooting. Meade, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Special prosecutor Gary Shroyer, in his opening statement, emphasized, “Six shots in the back. All fired by the defendant into the back of Casey Goodson with no reasonable basis for the defendant to perceive a threat by Casey. It’s an unjustified shooting. Casey was only 23 years old at the time the defendant killed him. Casey’s death is a tremendous loss to his family.”
Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens acknowledged the tragic nature of the events, “And it is not lost on us that somebody lost a life, somebody lost a son, a brother, and a friend.”
The Incident
On December 4, 2020, Meade was working with a U.S. Marshals task force searching for a wanted fugitive. Meade claims that he saw Goodson waving a gun erratically from inside his car and began to track him. Goodson was later followed home by Meade.
According to Meade’s statements, Goodson had a pistol in his right hand and a plastic bag in his left hand as he stood outside his grandmother’s house. Meade alleged that he repeatedly commanded Goodson to show his hands, but his commands were ignored. Meade asserted that when Goodson turned to face him, Goodson pointed the gun in his direction, resulting in Meade firing his weapon.
Reactions from Goodson’s Family
Goodson’s family argues that he was a legal gun owner and was returning from a dentist’s appointment, carrying a Subway sandwich, and wearing AirPods. They claim that he did not hear the officer’s commands. Goodson’s family and protesters have criticized the absence of body camera footage, as Franklin County Sheriff’s task force officers are not issued body cameras.
Grand Jury Indictment and Sheriff’s Response
The grand jury, nearly a year after the fatal shooting, found enough evidence to charge Meade with two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide in the shooting death of Goodson.
Following news of the indictment, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin released a statement emphasizing that the standards for being a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy must be even higher than that of the criminal justice system. Meade retired after 17 years with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Details about the ongoing trial are still emerging, and we will continue to provide updates as they unfold.
Source:
Link: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trial-begin-former-ohio-sheriffs-deputy-2020-shooting/story?id=106772849
