Additional Coverage:
- Ex-Ohio deputy found guilty of reckless homicide in shooting of Black man going into grandmother’s home (nbcnews.com)
Former Ohio Deputy Convicted of Reckless Homicide in Casey Goodson Jr. Shooting
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former sheriff’s deputy, Jason Meade, was found guilty Thursday of reckless homicide for the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., a Black man who was delivering sandwiches to his grandmother’s home in December 2020.
The incident sparked widespread outrage across Ohio. While jurors could not reach a consensus on the more severe murder charge, leading the judge to declare a mistrial on that count, the conviction on reckless homicide marks a significant development in the case.
Meade, who is white, claimed he shot Goodson-firing six times, including five shots in the back-because he believed Goodson was armed and turning toward him in the doorway. However, no witnesses corroborated seeing Goodson holding a gun, and no video evidence captured the event. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting the firearm was holstered under Goodson’s belt with the safety engaged when found beneath his body.
This trial was Meade’s second after an earlier murder trial ended in a mistrial two years ago. His conviction makes him the second white law enforcement officer in Ohio to be found guilty in the killing of a Black individual since the 2020 murder of George Floyd ignited nationwide protests.
Meade, 47, retired from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department in 2021 and is also a Baptist pastor. His defense attorney maintained that Meade’s actions were justified based on his accounts of the shooting.
Under Ohio law, murder involves purposefully causing death and carries a potential life sentence, while reckless homicide applies when death results from reckless conduct, with a maximum sentence of five years.
Prosecutors expressed satisfaction with the reckless homicide verdict and have yet to decide whether to pursue a new trial on the murder charge.
Testimony during the trials included Christopher Corne, who witnessed Goodson moments before the shooting and described him as appearing to dance and sing in his truck but did not see a weapon. Columbus police officer Samuel Rippey testified he observed the gun lying on the floor as he administered emergency aid to Goodson.
Goodson’s death intensified calls for police reform in Ohio amid a series of high-profile killings of Black individuals by white officers. The trial period saw protests in Columbus, including banners demanding justice and Meade’s conviction, which were removed by law enforcement at the judge’s direction.
Ohio’s record in such cases includes only one prior conviction: that of Columbus police officer Adam Coy, charged in the 2020 killing of Andre Hill.
The state has witnessed several fatal shootings of Black youth by law enforcement, including Tamir Rice, Tyre King, and Ma’Khia Bryant, as well as other notable cases involving Black victims killed by white officers in recent years. These incidents continue to fuel public debate over policing and racial justice in Ohio.