COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said Friday U.S. Marshal Peter Tobin made comments that were “inappropriate, inaccurate, and wrong," responding to Tobin declaring in a now-retracted statement that a county deputy's shooting of 23-year-old Columbus resident Casey Goodson Jr. was “justified.”
Two weeks ago, Goodson was fatally shot by Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade, 47, a 17-year veteran of the department. Meade remains on administrative leave pending investigations.
Tobin, the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, released a statement on Dec. 4 describing the shooting as “justified” self-defense, but then he backtracked soon after, saying he spoke prematurely.
“Before the investigation even began, he was suggesting that this was a justified shooting. That was wrong. It was inaccurate, and he was not speaking on behalf of anybody involved with the investigation,” Ginther said Friday morning. “But he and the U.S. Marshals have now distanced themselves from this deputy sheriff.”
The mayor said the investigations and autopsy results are pending. Ginther said Meade was working a warrant “totally unrelated” to Goodson in the Clinton Estates neighborhood of North Columbus, which he said calls for scrutiny.
Authorities have not described the details of the encounter between Meade and Goodson and what led to the use of force.
The case is under investigation and could lead to federal charges, state charges, or no charges at all, authorities said.
Goodson’s family has called for justice, rallying hundreds of demonstrators downtown last weekend.
According to Franklin County officials, the warrant Meade was working is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Marshal Services Fugitive Task.
Ginther described a Columbus police probe as a “concurrent investigation” to the Department of Justice Division of Civil Right’s investigation, led by David DeVillers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, along with FBI and Franklin County prosecutors.
Ginther said he is anticipating the autopsy report by Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz in the coming weeks.
“I asked [DeVillers], to join this investigation, do a concurrent investigation, and so that is taking place at this time,” Ginther said. “Obviously, we had some initial details from a preliminary autopsy report that Ortiz provided in the last week or so, but are awaiting that final autopsy report and the completion of the investigation.”
The mayor said it is important Franklin County sheriff’s deputies are outfitted with body-worn cameras, a process that is underway. So far, there is no known footage or confirmed witness accounts of the shooting.
“We've had body-worn cameras in the city of Columbus for years,” Ginther said. “It was my top priority when I was running for mayor back in 2015, and one of the key accomplishments of our administration in the first term."
Mark Collins, the attorney representing Meade, said the deputy fired only in response to Goodson escalating an incident. A gun was recovered at scene. Goodson was licensed, and Goodson’s family disputes he raised a gun at the deputy.