In brief
The retrial of Jason Meade, a former sheriff’s deputy in Ohio, is underway as he faces charges of murder and reckless homicide for the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. in December 2020. The shooting provoked widespread protests and renewed scrutiny of police accountability, particularly due to the absence of body cameras in the sheriff's department. Meade's defense claims he fired in self-defense fearing for his life, while Goodson's family contends he was unarmed when shot multiple times in the back while entering his grandmother’s home. The previous trial ended in a mistrial, highlighting the contentious nature of the case and community tensions.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Opening statements were set to commence on Thursday in the retrial of Jason Meade, a former Ohio sheriff’s deputy facing murder and reckless homicide charges for the 2020 shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., a Black man who was shot multiple times in the back while entering his grandmother’s home. The incident had sparked protests in Columbus and raised persistent concerns, notably due to the lack of body and dash cameras among the sheriff's deputies.Meade's prior trial resulted in a deadlocked jury, leading to a declared mistrial in 2024. During that trial, Meade testified he fired at Goodson after allegedly seeing him with a gun, an assertion disputed by Goodson’s family and prosecutors. They stated that Goodson was simply holding a sandwich bag in one hand and keys in the other, having just unlocked the door.Notably, Goodson's firearm was discovered on the kitchen floor of his grandmother's house with its safety on, casting doubt on claims of immediate threat. This retrial comes over two years after the tragic shooting, with the community still grappling with the implications of police use of force and accountability.The shooting occurred as Meade was concluding a search for a fugitive unrelated to Goodson, raising further questions about his actions and judgment at the scene. Goodson’s family continues to seek justice as the trial unfolds, with community members closely following the developments.