February 3rd 2024.
The courtroom was filled with tension as the Casey Goodson Jr. case began. It was revealed that at the time of the tragic shooting involving a deputy, Goodson was simply holding a sandwich and his keys. Former Ohio sheriff's deputy Jason Meade, the white officer involved, sat and listened as both his defense team and the prosecutors presented their arguments to the jury. It was a somber scene as the details of the events that took place in 2020 were recounted.
Meade, who pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless homicide charges, was accused of fatally shooting Goodson, a 23-year-old Black man. According to reports, Goodson was shot six times, with five bullets hitting him in the back. It all happened when Meade entered the victim's grandmother's house. The special prosecutor, Gary Shroyer, told the jury that Goodson did have a gun holster on his hip, which was never disputed by his family as he was a licensed firearm carrier. Shroyer also mentioned that Goodson had Airpods in his ears at the time, indicating that he was not a threat to Meade. "Casey did not pose a reasonable threat to him or anybody else at the moment when he pulled the trigger," Shroyer stated.
The prosecutor went on to explain that Meade's use of an assault-style rifle, aimed at "vital organs," could be seen as an intentional act that caused Goodson's death. Meade later claimed that he had pursued Goodson to his grandmother's house after the victim turned and lifted his gun, aiming it at the deputy. This led Meade to fire his weapon. However, Goodson's family argued that the victim did not heed the warnings to stop and drop his weapon. The defense attorney, Mark Stephens, stated that Meade feared for his life and the safety of others. "You have to look at the totality of the circumstances," Stephens told the jury. "Officers on the beat are not afforded the luxury of hindsight."
The prosecution also brought up the fact that the gun in question was found in Goodson's kitchen with the safety still on, according to the Associated Press. However, no evidence of the shooting was presented as Meade was not wearing a body camera at the time. Goodson's family took legal action against the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, filing a federal civil rights lawsuit. The suit alleged that the office failed to investigate claims of unreasonable force against Black residents and did not properly train deputies on how to handle situations involving civilians, particularly targeting African Americans.
Unfortunately, the federal lawsuit was put on hold by a judge due to the ongoing criminal case. Meade argued that defending himself in both cases would put him in a no-win situation. His lawyers fought to have the case tried in federal court, but in February 2022, a federal judge ruled that at the time of the shooting, Meade was not acting in his U.S. marshal role. Therefore, the murder case would remain in state court.
In the midst of all this, the Justice Department also announced that they would be investigating the police killing of a Black man in Columbus, Ohio, further adding to the ongoing discussions surrounding police brutality and systemic racism. This tragic case has sparked important conversations and calls for justice, and it is one that will continue to be closely watched by many.
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