Retrial begins for ex-deputy charged in Casey Goodson Jr. shooting

The high-profile case has drawn national attention and could set the tone for future police violence trials in Central Ohio.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:22am

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An extreme close-up of a single spent bullet casing on a dark surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the investigation into a police shooting.The retrial of a former deputy charged in the 2020 shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr. could shape how future police violence cases are viewed in Central Ohio.Columbus Today

Jury selection is set to begin Thursday for the retrial of Jason Meade, the former Franklin County deputy charged with murder in the 2020 shooting death of 23-year-old Black man Casey Goodson Jr. Meade's previous trial in 2024 ended in a hung jury after three days of tumultuous deliberations.

Why it matters

The Goodson case is among Central Ohio's most prominent, drawing national attention during a time of civil unrest and racial reckoning. A resolution has been years in the making, and the retrial could set the tone for future police violence trials locally.

The details

Goodson was shot six times in his back and buttocks within the doorway of his grandmother's Northland home, according to an autopsy report. Meade, 47, wasn't wearing a body camera at the time, as the county first purchased that technology in 2022. Separately, the county approved a $7 million civil settlement with Goodson's family in 2024, but didn't admit liability. Meade's attorneys are expected to argue self-defense this time around, which would require prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it wasn't.

  • The previous trial's arguments centered on whether Goodson was a threat during his final moments and whether Meade's actions were justified.
  • Meade's retrial follows two other high-profile police cases with split outcomes in Central Ohio.

The players

Jason Meade

The former Franklin County deputy charged with murder in the 2020 shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr.

Casey Goodson Jr.

A 23-year-old Black man who was shot six times in his back and buttocks within the doorway of his grandmother's Northland home in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“It felt like one step forward, two steps back.”

— Emily Cole, Political director of the Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality support group

What’s next

Jury selection should start Thursday for the retrial of Jason Meade.

The takeaway

The Goodson case has drawn national attention and could set the tone for future police violence trials in Central Ohio, where recent high-profile cases have had split outcomes.