Ohio deputy who fatally shot Black man entering his grandmother’s house is convicted of reckless homicide

A jury convicted former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy Jason Meade of reckless homicide in the 2020 killing of Casey Goodson Jr., a Black man shot while entering his grandmother’s Columbus, Ohio home.

The panel could not reach a verdict on the murder charge, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial on that count.

What happened to Casey Goodson Jr?

Meade, who is white, shot Goodson six times, including five times in the back. He claimed he fired because Goodson turned toward him with a gun. However, no witnesses testified that they saw Goodson holding the weapon, and no cameras recorded the shooting.

Prosecutors and his family said Goodson carried a bag of sandwiches and his keys as he entered the home. They noted that his licensed firearm was found under his body with the safety engaged. They argued that Meade was the only person who claimed Goodson pointed a gun.

Meade had testified in his first trial that he pursued Goodson after seeing him wave a gun while driving. He did not testify in the second trial.

Casey Goodson Jr’s Family Reacts to the Verdict

Goodson’s mother, Tamala Payne, said the verdict brought her family peace after years of grief. She said the decision allows her son to “rest” and gives the family a measure of closure.

“I’m happy, I’m sad and I’m everywhere,” Payne told CBS affiliate WBNS. She said that to have Meade “convicted of something is still a great feeling.”

Legal and Community Impact

The conviction marks only the second time an Ohio officer has been found guilty in the killing of a Black person since 2020. Advocates said the verdict represents a rare moment of accountability, although the unresolved murder charge leaves questions about whether prosecutors will pursue a third trial.

Meade’s sentencing is scheduled for June 16, and he faces up to three years in prison for the reckless homicide conviction.