Community Responds to Mistrial in the Murder of Casey Goodson Jr

Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack,

We, the undersigned citizens of Ohio, unite in demanding justice for Casey Goodson Jr. and his family. The recent mistrial in the murder trial of Jason Meade, the officer responsible for Casey Goodson Jr.'s death, has sparked outrage and deep concern for the integrity of our legal system.

After a long and confusing course of events, Judge David Young declared a mistrial in the case against Jason Meade, the 45-year-old Franklin County Sheriff's officer who shot and killed Casey Goodson Jr., on December 4, 2020. Local social justice organizations have released a statement condemning this mistrial as a painful reminder of systemic injustice. You can read that here.

Casey Goodson Jr.'s life was unjustly cut short on December 4, 2020, in a tragic incident involving Jason Meade. Eyewitnesses and detectives have provided compelling testimony that contradicts Meade's version of events. It is evident that Meade's actions on that fateful day were reckless, unjustified, and resulted in the tragic loss of Casey's life.

Casey was more than a victim of police violence; he was a beloved member of his community, a young man full of promise and vitality whose memory continues to inspire those who knew him. His family, friends, and countless supporters mourn his loss and demand accountability for those responsible.

Therefore, we make the following demands:

• We demand a retrial of Jason Meade for the Murder of Casey Goodson Jr. immediately.
• We demand the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office move forward with the family’s civil case against Franklin County immediately, and without waiting for the criminal case to resolve.
• We demand transparency, accountability, and impartiality in the pursuit of justice for Casey Goodson Jr. and all victims of police violence.
• We demand that the jury selected for future proceedings reflects the diversity of the community in which the shooting took place. In no world should there be only one Black jury member.

Multiple mistrials equal a miscarriage of justice. No justice equals no peace. This is not justice, and Casey’s family deserves peace.

We stand in solidarity with Casey's family as they continue to seek truth, justice, and closure in the face of unimaginable grief. We echo their call for accountability and fairness in the legal process and demand a retrial of Jason Meade for the Murder of Casey Goodson Jr. immediately. Furthermore, we urge the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office to move forward with the family’s civil case against Franklin County immediately, and without waiting for the criminal case to resolve.