COLUMBUS, Ohio — The defense team wasted little time in calling to the stand the man who is at the center of this trial.

Hours after the prosecution rested its case, Jason Meade took the stand in his own defense, sharing with the jury about his childhood, his military background and his recollection of what happened Dec. 4, 2020. That’s the day he shot and killed Casey Goodson Jr. When the defense asked Meade why he shot Goodson, he said that he saw a threat.

“I thought he was going to shoot me. I’m thinking I don’t want to die. The very reason, I thought. I never thought I was going to have to shoot him,” said Jason Meade.

Meade began to get emotional when talking about the incident, thinking about his son. 

“I remember thinking it was my boy’s birthday,” said Meade. “I just ruined his birthday.”

During the cross examination, the prosecution pressed Meade about what happened on Dec. 4, 2020, trying to see if he would contradict himself. They kept comparing his written testimony from when the shooting occurred that night to what he said in court Tuesday. It led to some heated moments between special prosecutor Gary Shroyer and Meade. 

“You may have been mistaken as to what your perceptions were,” said special prosecutor, Gary Shroyer.

“No, no way. I was mistaken. It happened at the intersection, sir,” said Meade.

“You could be mistaken as to what the driver of that car was doing,” said Shroyer.

“No, he pointed his gun at me. There’s no mistake in somebody pointing a gun. If anybody ever does it, you’ll never forget it,” said Meade.

Cross-examination is expected to continue Wednesday.