COLUMBUS, Ohio — Prosecutors say a gun that a former Ohio sheriff’s deputy said a man was waving at him when he fatally shot him in the back in 2020 was found in the man’s kitchen with the safety on.
In his opening statement Wednesday in the murder case against Jason Meade, special prosecutor Gary Shroyer shared publicly for the first time where 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr.’s handgun was discovered. Goodson, who fell when he was shot six times with five shots hitting in the back, also had a gun holster with no strap around his waist, Shroyer said.
Meade, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless homicide in the death of Goodson, who was Black. The sheriff’s deputy shot Goodson as he entered his grandmother’s house, police have said.
The jury hearing the case was seated Tuesday, and testimony was expected to start Thursday. Jurors made a brief visit Wednesday afternoon to the scene of shooting.
Shroyer emphasized numerous times on Wednesday that Goodson was holding a bag of sandwiches in one hand and his keys in the other at the time he was shot. He also had his Airpods in his ears, Shroyer said. Neither he nor Goodson’s family have ever disputed that Goodson could have been carrying a gun but note that he also had a license to carry a firearm.
Based on Meade’s aiming at “vital organs” and shooting of an assault style rifle, Shroyer said Meade’s actions meet the criteria for knowingly and intentionally causing Goodson’s death.
“Casey did not pose a reasonable threat to him or anybody else at the moment when he pulled the trigger,” Shroyer said.
Meade’s defense team maintained Wednesday that Goodson waved and pointed a firearm at Meade from his vehicle as Meade drove by and that Meade pursued Goodson to his grandmother’s home. Meade previously said that Goodson…
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