A former sheriff’s deputy was discovered responsible of reckless murder on Thursday for the deadly taking pictures of an Ohio man in 2020, a uncommon legal conviction for a police-involved killing.
Jason Meade, who was working with a activity pressure, had been trying to find a fugitive when he shot Casey Goodson Jr., 23, a number of occasions within the again in December 2020. The killing roiled the city of Columbus and prompted tons of to exhibit within the streets.
Prosecutors and the household of Mr. Goodson, who’s Black, have stated that he was shot whereas standing within the doorway of his house in Columbus and was returning house with Subway sandwiches for his household after a dentist’s appointment.
A Franklin County jury discovered Mr. Meade responsible of reckless murder on Thursday. The jury couldn’t agree on whether or not to convict Mr. Meade of a separate homicide cost, and the decide declared a mistrial for that depend.
A sentencing listening to is scheduled for June.
It’s uncommon for a regulation enforcement officer to be criminally tried over a killing that happens on the job. In 2022, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was discovered guilty of two counts of homicide within the dying of George Floyd, whose killing touched off racial justice protests worldwide. That conviction was seen as signaling a brand new willingness in the US to carry cops criminally accountable for misconduct.
Mr. Meade was initially charged in December 2021 on two counts of homicide and one depend of reckless murder within the taking pictures of Mr. Goodson. He pleaded not responsible to the fees, courtroom data present. Earlier than he was charged, Mr. Meade left the sheriff’s workplace on incapacity retirement in July 2021.
This was Mr. Meade’s second trial after the primary resulted in a mistrial two years in the past. Prosecutors dropped one of many homicide expenses within the retrial.
Mr. Meade’s attorneys have beforehand stated that he had adopted Mr. Goodson to his house as a result of Mr. Goodson was “erratically” waving a firearm whereas driving house.
Mr. Goodson pointed the gun at Mr. Meade, who opened fireplace as a result of he feared for his life, Mr. Meade’s attorneys stated. Mr. Goodson didn’t have a legal historical past, and he was licensed to hold a hid weapon, the Goodson household’s authorized crew has stated.
In 2024, Ohio officers accredited a $7 million settlement for Mr. Goodson’s household after the household sued Franklin County.
Kirsten Noyes contributed analysis.
