Updated December 2, 2021, at 9:39 AM.
Former Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade has been charged with the murder of Casey Goodson, Jr.
Meade shot Goodson five times in the back on December 4 while Goodson, who was Black, was entering his home, although the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.
According to the U.S. Marshal, Meade was part of a task force carrying out an unsuccessful search for a suspect in the Northland area of Columbus when deputies encountered Goodson, who was reportedly "driving down the street waving a gun." Meade followed Goodson and confronted him at his home.
There is no footage of the shooting, because Meade, like other sheriff's deputies, was not equipped with a body camera. A lawyer for Meade claims that Goodson pointed a gun at the deputy during their encounter, and police say they recovered a gun from Goodson's body after he died.
Goodson's family disputes both allegations, contending that he was carrying a bag of sandwiches while entering his home. Family members also say they did not see a gun in Goodson's hand or near his body.
In June, Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack selected Tim Merkle and Gary Shroyer to serve as special prosecutors in the case.
Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced that Meade would leave the department on disability retirement on July 2.
Baldwin has released the following statement:
“After the grand jury indictment today, I’ve reminded my staff that while everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the standards for being a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy must be even higher than that of our criminal justice system. As law enforcement officers we must meet this higher standard because of the immense trust we ask the community to place in us. It’s vital to maintain that trust, which is why I’ve tasked members of my staff to review the facts from the independent investigation when we’re able to fully access them and determine how this agency can best learn from this tragedy. This office has a professional obligation to do everything in its power to ensure the community and our deputies are kept safe. As I’ve said from the very beginning, I pray for everyone involved in this tragedy.”