- Former Ohio sheriff’s deputy Jason Meade testified at the murder trial in the 2020 shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr.
- Meade has pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless homicide in Goodson’s death.
- Goodson was shot five times in the back by Meade as he entered his grandmother’s house.
A former Ohio sheriff’s deputy said in his murder trial Tuesday that the man who killed him did not intend to shoot himself, even though prosecutors claimed the man’s gun was found on the kitchen floor with the safety activated. He testified that he lifted the gun.
Jason Meade took the stand to explain the 2020 shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr. Meade was not seen on the body camera because he was not wearing one at the time. He said he feared for his life and the lives of those around him when Meade shot 23-year-old Goodson five times in the back, six times in total.
Meade, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless homicide in the death of Goodson, who is black. Police said a sheriff’s deputy, a Baptist pastor, shot and killed Goodson as he entered his grandmother’s home. Prosecutors said Goodson fell into the home’s kitchen, where a gun was found.
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Prosecutors said Goodson was holding a sandwich bag in one hand and a key in the other when she was killed. When Meade testified about the shooting, he said Goodson brandished a gun from his car and prompted a chase. Meade said Goodson then did not respond to his commands.
Casey Goodson Jr.’s attorney Sean Walton speaks at a press conference on September 7, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. A former Ohio sheriff’s deputy testified in Tuesday’s murder trial that Goodson lifted the gun and shot him anyway. Prosecutors said the man’s gun was found on the kitchen floor with the safety activated. (AP Photo/Kantele Franco)
He told jurors that Goodson initially had his back turned and when Goodson turned to raise the gun at him, he fired.
“I thought he was going to shoot me. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to shoot him,” he said. Meade also said he hoped Goodson would surrender, but felt he had no choice in stopping a “deadly threat.”
On stage, Mr. Meade also addressed past statements about his law enforcement work as a pastor and as a member of the Conference of Christian Men. The recording received significant backlash, and Mr. Meade’s lawyers attempted to hide the recording from the jury, but the request was denied.
In the recording, Meade spoke to conference attendees and said he had a “great job” and could “hunt” people. He also made comments about use of force, including that he was “justified” in “throwing the first punch” because he wants others to hit them too.
He said his comments about hunting were an attempt to explain his work in a way that would be understandable to people who don’t know about it.
Mead also explained that he often uses real-life experiences to convey spiritual messages and connects the use of force to the Biblical story of David and Goliath, in which a young boy defeats a giant who tries to kill him. .
Neither prosecutors nor Goodson’s family dispute that Goodson may have owned a gun, although they note that he also had a license to carry a firearm. Goodson also wore a holster without a strap around his waist.
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Special Prosecutor Gary Schroyer questioned Meade about whether he had done enough to notify Goodson that he was a law enforcement agent. Mr. Meade told Mr. Schroyer that the situation was so urgent that there was no time to turn on sirens or lights, and that Goodson must have heard him because he ran away from Mr. Meade.
Schroyer reiterated that Goodson had AirPods in his ears when he died, and contradicted Meade’s testimony about him “acting quickly” and actively fleeing law enforcement. I pointed out something. He also noted that Meade lost sight of Goodson on the way to Goodson’s grandmother’s house.
Schroyer also questioned whether a reasonable police officer could have determined that Goodson was in his car heading for his home, especially given that Goodson was able to open the side door with his keys. asked Mr. Meade.
Mead said he did not know how or with what kind of hand Goodson opened the door, but argued Goodson’s actions were “indicative of criminal activity.”
