Deputy CONVICTED — Six Shots in the Back

After more than five years of legal battles, a former Ohio sheriff’s deputy has been convicted of reckless homicide for shooting a legally armed Black man six times in the back as he entered his grandmother’s home carrying sandwiches.

Story Snapshot

Former Franklin County Deputy Jason Meade convicted of reckless homicide on May 7, 2026, in the shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr., who held a valid concealed carry permit
Jury deadlocked on murder charges, resulting in mistrial on that count; Meade’s bond revoked pending July 16 sentencing
Goodson was shot six times in the back outside his home on December 4, 2020, while carrying fast food and a legally owned firearm
Case represents rare criminal accountability for law enforcement after initial mistrial in 2024 and five-year wait for Goodson’s family

Verdict Delivered After Second Trial

On May 7, 2026, a jury found former Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Meade guilty of reckless homicide in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. The verdict came after jurors deadlocked on murder charges, leading Judge David Young to declare a mistrial on that count. Meade’s bond was immediately revoked and he was remanded to custody pending sentencing scheduled for July 16, 2026. The conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 11 years in prison. This marks the second trial for Meade, whose first prosecution in October 2024 ended in a hung jury and complete mistrial.

Shooting of Armed Citizen Entering His Own Home

Casey Goodson Jr. was shot and killed on December 4, 2020, outside his grandmother’s Columbus home. Goodson, who held a valid concealed carry permit, was carrying sandwiches and a legal firearm when Meade fired six shots into his back in under two seconds. Meade had been on proactive patrol responding to an unrelated 911 call about a suicidal man with a gun in a different location. The deputy claimed self-defense, alleging Goodson turned toward him with the weapon, but evidence showed all six shots struck Goodson from behind as he entered the residence. No bodycam footage captured the actual shooting, though neighbor videos corroborated Goodson entering his home.

Pattern of Prior Shootings Raises Questions

The conviction takes on added significance given Meade’s history with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Records show the former deputy was involved in three prior shootings in 2007, 2012, and 2016, none of which resulted in criminal charges. He was fired from the department in February 2021 following his grand jury indictment on two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and reckless homicide. The Goodson family filed a 25 million dollar wrongful death lawsuit that was settled in 2022 for an undisclosed amount. Meade had been supported throughout the legal process by the Fraternal Order of Police, which helped fund his defense.

Implications for Second Amendment Rights and Police Accountability

This case highlights a troubling reality for lawful gun owners: possessing a legally carried firearm can become a death sentence during police encounters, even on private property. Goodson exercised his Second Amendment rights responsibly with a valid concealed carry permit, yet was shot in the back while entering his own home. The reckless homicide conviction acknowledges that Meade consciously disregarded the risk his actions posed to an individual who was not actively threatening him. Legal experts note the verdict may set a precedent for holding officers accountable in cases involving reckless rather than intentional conduct, potentially influencing similar prosecutions nationwide.

The partial verdict underscores deep divisions over police use of force. While Goodson’s family expressed relief after waiting five and a half years for accountability, frustration remains over the hung jury on murder charges. Prosecutors may pursue a retrial on that count. The case consumed over one million dollars in taxpayer-funded trial costs and reignited racial tensions in Columbus, a city that has experienced multiple high-profile police killings since 2020. Both supporters of law enforcement and criminal justice reform advocates will be watching closely when Meade faces sentencing in July, as the outcome could influence recruitment, retention, and qualified immunity debates affecting police departments across Ohio and beyond.