An Ohio sheriff’s deputy is on trial for the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. back in 2020. Opening statements raised a major question: was Goodson holding a gun at the time of the shooting… or a sandwich?
The murder trial against former Ohio Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Meade has begun this week. Authorities released a statement saying Meade, who was working as a member of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force, was looking for nonviolent offenders in the Northland area of Columbus. He claimed to have witnessed a man with a gun and investigated if there were “reports of a verbal exchange.” Without much detail of what happened after spotting Goodson, police say Meade shot him six times in the back as he walked into his grandmother’s house.
In opening arguments Wednesday, Meade’s attorneys argued that Goodson waved and pointed his gun directly at the officer resulting in the shooting as the officer “feared for his life.” However, prosecutor Gary Shroyer told the jury that the only thing Goodson had in his hands were a bag of Subway sandwiches and his keys at the time of the shooting.
Shroyer didn’t deny Goodson was armed but noted his firearm was in its holster in his waistband. Also, Goodson was licensed to carry.
Another point of conflict was when Meade’s attorneys argued that Goodson ignored the warnings to drop his weapon. However, even if those commands were made, Shroyer said Goodson had his Airpods in his ears.
Ironically, the one thing that could clarify all these discrepancies - body camera footage - isn’t available? Turns out Meade didn’t wear one the day of the shooting. So, each side of this case has to prove one way or another that their version of the story is true… and to an all-white jury, per The Columbus Dispatch.
Meade faces murder and reckless homicide charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison. Regardless of the verdict, he’ll be due back in court on federal charges after a judge found he didn’t have the authority to arrest Goodson and was not acting as a federal officer at the time of the shooting, per NBC.