COLUMBUS, Ohio — Special prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss one of the two murder charges against former Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy Jason Meade.
Meade was charged with two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide in the December 2020 killing of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. in Columbus.
A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge declared a mistrial in February after the jury could not reach a verdict.
Sean Walton, the attorney representing Goodson’s family in the case, released a statement on their behalf. The family said that they were aware of the motion and supported the decision.
Explaining the two murder charges
Meade was indicted on two different counts of murder in connection to Goodson’s death.
- ORC 2903.02 (A) | Murder: No person shall purposely cause the death of another.
- ORC 2903.03 (B) | Murder: No person shall cause the death of another as a proximate result of the offender’s committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence that is a felony of the first or second degree.
Prosecutors are seeking to dismiss the murder charge that accuses Meade of purposely causing Goodson’s death, according to court records filed May 31.
If the motion passes, Meade would face the remaining murder charge as well as reckless homicide during his trial scheduled to start in November.
What happened in the first trial?
Meade testified that Goodson waved a gun at him as the two drove past each other so he pursued Goodson because he feared for his life and the lives of others. He said he eventually shot Goodson in the doorway of his grandmother’s home because the young man turned toward him with a gun.
Goodson’s family and prosecutors have said he was holding a sandwich bag in one hand and his keys in the other when he was fatally shot. They do not dispute that Goodson may have been carrying a gun and note he had a license to carry a firearm.
Goodson’s weapon was found on his grandmother’s kitchen floor with the safety mechanism engaged.
There is no body camera video of the shooting, and prosecutors repeatedly asserted that Meade is the only person who testified Goodson was holding a gun. Meade was not wearing a body camera.
During closing arguments, prosecutors said Meade's claims about Goodson posing a threat were simply not credible.
Defense lawyers insisted that the evidence in the case was consistent with Meade's testimony.
The judge declared a mistrial in February after the jury could not come to a decision on two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide.
When will the second trial start?
Meade’s new trial will start on Oct. 31 with jury selection and testimony beginning on Nov. 4.
Full statement from Casey Goodson Jr.’s family regarding the court motion
“The family of Casey Goodson, Jr. fully supports the decision by the special prosecutors to dismiss one of the murder charges against Jason Meade. The prosecutors have prioritized communicating with the family throughout this ordeal, and this request comes as no surprise.
The family trusts their judgment and believes in their legal strategy to secure justice for Casey by pursuing a conviction on the remaining murder charge and the reckless homicide charge. The family remains committed to seeing justice served and appreciates the prosecutors' dedication to this case.
We understand the complexities involved in this process and stand united with the special prosecutors in their pursuit of accountability for the tragic loss of Casey Goodson, Jr. The family will continue to support all efforts to ensure that Jason Meade is held responsible for his actions.”
Full statement from Meade's attorney Mark Collins
"The facts are known to the parties and have not changed in three-and-a-half years. Yet, the grand jury process was abused to secure an indictment for purposeful murder. Even knowing all these facts, this is what Mr. Merkle and Mr. Shroyer argued in their closing arguments. These prosecutors subjected Jason Meade to the peril of being convicted of a purposeful murder, a charge that carries a life sentence. Now knowing that the public knows these same facts, the State has chosen to walk away from the purposeful murder count. Justice is supposed to be a two-way street."