Family of Casey Goodson releases new evidence as murder trial of Jason Meade continued

The family of Casey Goodson says a new photograph released Wednesday bolsters their assertion that the 23-year-old was unaware he was being approached by a former Franklin County Sheriff's office deputy.

Sean Walton, the attorney for Goodson's mother, Tamala Payne, said Wednesday at a news conference at the Columbus Urban League offices that multiple pieces of evidence were left behind at the scene by Columbus police, who initially investigated the fatal shooting. Among those items, he said, was a pair of Apple AirPods with blood on them.

Goodson, who had a concealed carry permit, was shot while entering his home on Dec. 4, 2020. His family has said that he was carrying Subway sandwiches to the home on the 3900 block of Estates Place where he resided with his grandmother and was unaware that Franklin County SWAT Deputy Jason Meade was approaching him.

Through his attorney, Meade has said he saw Goodson flash a gun while driving by him and had followed him to the house for improper handling of a firearm. Meade has said he repeatedly called for Goodson to show his hands and that Goodson turned toward him pointing a gun when the deputy shot him. Goodson's firearm was found at the scene, but the exact location has not been disclosed.

An autopsy showed that Goodson was shot six times, five of them entering his back. Meade, who took early retirement, was indicted in December 2021 on charges of murder and reckless homicide.

Prior coverage:Judge rules Jason Meade must face state murder charges in death of Casey Goodson Jr.

Walton said the AirPods were something Goodson wore on a regular basis and were found in a pool of Goodson's blood on the home's kitchen floor. Walton and Goodson's family maintain that if the deputy had told him to put his hands up, Goodson likely never heard the commands.

"(His family) literally would have to shout at Casey and demonstrably get his attention for Casey to take the AirPods out and for Casey to hear what they were saying," Walton said. "It’s likely he was following his routine, AirPods in his ear, entering his home. He was oblivious to the murderous threat that encountered him from behind and had no idea he was being fired upon at the point he was murdered by Jason Meade."

The AirPods were turned over to the FBI, Walton said. No photographs or other evidence were provided by Walton on Wednesday to corroborate what he said occurred in finding the AirPods.

"I strongly believe (Columbus police) has taken pictures of the aftermath and the FBI conducted their own investigation," Walton said. "It's likely that pictures exist that will come out."

The Dispatch reached out to Columbus police for comment immediately following Walton's statements at the news conference, but did not receive a response by mid-afternoon.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was asked to investigate by the sheriff's office three days after the shooting. The state agency declined at that time, noting that its forensic crime team was not called in from the start, so the case was primarily investigated by the Columbus police Critical Incident Response Team. The FBI formally joined the investigation four days after the shooting.

Following his death, Goodson's family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Meade. That case has been put on hold until the criminal case against Meade is completed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Meade is currently scheduled to go to trial in early December, but there have been continuances and Walton said that date is likely to be moved into 2023.

Prior coverage:What we know about the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. by a Franklin County deputy

Walton said on Wednesday that the family is hoping that the stay that was granted in the civil lawsuit — putting a pause on the lawsuit until the criminal trial is over — will be lifted so that Goodson's family can get some sense of closure and resolution, as well as change.

"Casey was hunted, he was stalked, he became prey and he was slaughtered, executed as he was going into his home, completely oblivious to the danger behind him," Payne said on Wednesday. "They have not shown no responsibility for Casey’s murder. They have not shown any empathy, sympathy. They act as if we asked to be here. It's just time for (Franklin County Prosecutor) Gary Tyack’s office and the Board of Commissioners to stand up and do what’s right by the family."

Walton added that Goodson's family is hoping for significant change in policy and reforms as part of any resolution, citing the Aug. 30 death of Donovan Lewis, who was shot by veteran Columbus police Officer Ricky Anderson while police were serving felony and misdemeanor warrants for his arrest, as another example of a need for urgency.

"We'd welcome them to engage us in any resolution of this matter or allow us to move forward to a jury and allow them to give this family what they deserve for Jason Meade’s actions," Walton said of attorneys representing Meade and Franklin County.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Casey Goodson's family releases new evidence in case: bloodied AirPods