COLUMBUS, Ohio — A private gathering was held at Impact Community Action in south Columbus Saturday evening to celebrate the life of Casey Goodson Jr.
His mother, Tamala Payne, described her son as a family man who was full of life and an old soul.
Goodson Jr. was 23 years old when he was shot and killed by former Franklin County Deputy Jason Meade as he walked into his grandmother’s home in north Columbus. His family said he was carrying food at the time.
"It's just a celebration in honor of his life that was taken on December 4,” Payne said.
Dec. 4 is a day Payne and her family and loved ones will never forget, when her son was killed in 2020. Payne said the loss of her son is a pain that never goes away.
"I wake up every day with a piece of me missing, a void, not seeing my son's voice not being able to call him, talk to him, and it's painful, it's a painful journey,” Payne said.
Since his death, the family has been awaiting the trial of Meade to begin, but it has continuously been pushed back.
"We don't get to rest, we don't get to heal, we don't get to really start our grieving process and our healing journey because we're busy fighting,” Payne said.
"From a legal perspective it's very frustrating because we're ready to go,” said Sean Walton, a Columbus civil rights attorney representing Goodson Jr.’s family.
Walton said it's important for people to know the circumstances surrounding this case and how situations like this can be prevented in the future.
"While this process has taken place, there's been no accountability, there's been no reform measures in place and there's been no policy changes,” Walton said.
The trial for Meade is set to begin next year. He is being charged with two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide.
Payne said she hopes the trial will bring with it a conviction of the man who killed her son and closure for her family.
"I'll be there every day, I'll be there for every minute, every second of his trial, I'll be there every day… I'm just ready for Casey to be able to rest in peace,” Payne said.
Meade’s trial is slated to begin Jan. 25, 2024.