Franklin County to vote on $7 million settlement in Casey Goodson Jr.'s death
Franklin County Commissioners will vote Tuesday on a $7 million settlement in a civil lawsuit involving a sheriff deputy's fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. in 2020.
The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office is asking commissioners to approve the multi-million dollar settlement that would dismiss all civil claims by Goodson's family without admitting any liability, according to the resolution.
Goodson was fatally shot by former sheriff's deputy Jason Meade in December 2020. The $7 million would come from the county's general funds, according to a county resolution.
Meade faces a retrial by special prosecutors this fall after a jury could not agree on a verdict earlier this year.
Meade originally was charged with one count of reckless homicide, one charge of murder for purposefully causing his death and one charge for a felonious assault for Goodson's death.
Prosecutors later dropped the purposeful murder charge and plan on retrying Meade with the remaining reckless homicide charge and murder charge. The first court date in his second trial is set for October.
On Dec. 4, 2020, Meade was working in a federal fugitive task force when he saw Goodson pointing a gun out of the windshield of his car, he testified during his trial. Meade followed Goodson, who had headphones playing at an unknown volume, and commanded him to drop the gun as Goodson entered the side door of his grandmother's home.
Meade pulled the trigger on his rifle that was set to automatic fire, firing six shots. Five of the shots hit Goodson in the back and one hit him in the side, according to an autopsy report presented during Meade's trial.
A handgun with its safety engaged was found under Goodson's body, according to evidence presented during Meade's trial.
NHart@dispatch.com
@NathanRHart
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jason Meade's shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. may cost taxpayers $7M
