COLUMBUS, OH — Opening statements began Thursday in the retrial of former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy Jason Meade, who is charged with murder and reckless homicide in the 2020 shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr. The case returns to court more than two years after Meade’s first trial ended in a mistrial when jurors could not agree on a verdict.
A 12-person jury was seated Wednesday in a Columbus courtroom, with nine women and three men chosen to hear the evidence. Meade has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors say the evidence will show that Goodson, 23, was shot six times in the back as he was entering his home. The defense says Meade acted reasonably after believing Goodson posed a deadly threat.
Prosecutors say Goodson was shot in the back while entering his home
Special prosecutor Tim Merkle opened for the state by telling jurors the shooting was not a split-second justified response, but a fatal act that happened as Goodson was going inside his house. Merkle said Goodson had a Subway bag, was listening to music through AirPods, and had already entered the home area when Meade fired.
Merkle told jurors the evidence will show that Meade shot Goodson six times in the back, including five shots to his back, according to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office. He argued that Goodson was not a threat at the time and said Meade’s own statement to another officer would conflict with the version the defense plans to present.
According to Merkle, Meade later said Goodson was going into the house with a gun, but did not say Goodson pointed the weapon at him before the shooting. Prosecutors contend that distinction matters because it goes to whether the use of deadly force was lawful.
Defense calls the shooting a justified tragedy under police standards
Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens told jurors the shooting was a “justified tragedy” and said the law requires them to view Meade’s actions from the perspective of a reasonable officer in the moment. She argued that Meade believed Goodson pointed a gun at him and that the deputy reacted to what he saw as an immediate danger.
Stephens said jurors must answer two questions: whether Meade believed he was about to be shot and whether his decision to use deadly force was reasonable from the standpoint of a reasonable police officer in his position, without the benefit of hindsight. The defense says the incident unfolded too quickly for Meade to weigh every detail the way a jury can now.
Goodson’s family says he was returning from a dentist appointment and walking into his grandmother’s home while carrying a Subway sandwich. Their account directly disputes the defense description of events.
No body camera footage exists from the fatal encounter
The retrial is taking place without body camera video, because Franklin County sheriff’s deputies were not yet issued body-worn cameras at the time of the shooting. That leaves jurors to rely on witness testimony, police accounts, and forensic evidence as they weigh what happened on Dec. 4, 2020.
Prosecutors say Meade was working with the U.S. Marshals while searching for a potential violent fugitive when he fatally shot Goodson. Officials have said Goodson was not the target of that search.
A gun was found with the safety on, and police said Goodson was a legal gun owner with a concealed carry permit found in his wallet. The state argues that those facts do not make him a threat, particularly because he was going into his home at the time of the shooting.
Judge allows self-defense argument after prior mistrial
Before the retrial began, a judge ruled that Meade can argue self-defense. Prosecutors had tried to block that defense, saying Meade created the situation that led to Goodson’s death, but the judge said the claim could be presented because no evidence had yet been introduced in the new trial.
That ruling matters because self-defense is expected to be one of the central questions for jurors. The defense has already signaled it will focus heavily on Meade’s perception of danger and the split-second nature of the decision.
Meade’s first trial ended in February 2024 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The retrial gives both sides another chance to persuade a jury after the earlier case ended without a decision.
The case has drawn scrutiny and changed sheriff’s office policy
Goodson’s death led to widespread outrage and pressure on the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office to equip deputies with body-worn cameras. According to WSYX, the department rolled out that policy in 2022.
Meade was placed on administrative leave during the investigation and later retired on disability on July 2, 2021. He was charged by special prosecutors Tim Merkle and Gary Shroyer after a grand jury indictment on Dec. 2, 2021.
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Tyack appointed the special prosecutors in June 2021 because of a possible conflict tied to his office’s representation of the sheriff’s office in other legal matters. The investigation included Columbus police and the local FBI office, and the case continues to draw strong reactions from both Goodson’s family and Meade’s union.
