A former Ohio sheriff’s deputy has been found guilty of reckless homicide in the 2020 fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., a case that sparked widespread outrage and renewed demands for police reform across the United States.
A jury in Columbus convicted former deputy Jason Meade on Thursday after deliberating over the fatal shooting that occurred outside Goodson’s grandmother’s home in December 2020.
Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the more serious murder charge, leading the judge to declare a mistrial on that count. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will pursue a third trial for murder.
Meade, who is white, claimed he shot the 23 year old because he believed Goodson was holding a gun and turning toward him at the doorway. However, witnesses testified that they did not see Goodson carrying the firearm at the time of the shooting, although he legally possessed a license to carry.
According to prosecutors and family members, Goodson had been returning home with Subway sandwiches for his grandmother when he was confronted. Authorities said he was listening to music through earbuds and carrying food and keys moments before he was shot multiple times.
Investigators stated that the firearm was later discovered beneath Goodson’s body with its safety mechanism still engaged, suggesting it may not have been in use during the incident.
The trial marked Meade’s second appearance in court after an earlier murder trial ended in a mistrial two years ago. Meade retired from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department in 2021 and also served as a Baptist pastor.
Under Ohio law, reckless homicide carries a maximum prison sentence of five years, while a murder conviction could have resulted in a life sentence.
The case became a major flashpoint in the national debate over policing and racial justice following the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which triggered protests across the country.
Goodson’s death led to demonstrations throughout Ohio, with activists demanding accountability and justice. The case also placed renewed attention on several other fatal police shootings involving Black individuals in the state over the past decade.
