2023 Recap: Fiery Bus Crash on I-70, Shootings, and Homicides Dominate Central Ohio’s Public Safety Headlines; Victims Remembered

Accident – death – Obituary News : Shootings, homicides, and a tragic crash dominated central Ohio’s public safety headlines in 2023, making it a violent year for the city. According to The Dispatch, 2023 marked the third-deadliest year in Columbus history, with 146 homicides recorded as of December 15. The year was also marred by two high-profile sentencings in the most expensive political scandal in Ohio history, as well as police-involved shootings and various other crimes.

One of the most-read public safety stories of 2023 was a fiery bus crash on I-70 in Licking County that claimed the lives of six people and injured 16 others on November 14. The tragic accident occurred at 8:52 a.m. as all the vehicles involved were traveling westbound. A tractor-trailer operated by Hebron-based Mid-State Systems failed to slow down as traffic slowed ahead, colliding with an SUV and striking the back of a charter bus carrying Tuscarawas High School students. The students were on their way to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus, where their band was scheduled to perform. Three students and three chaperones lost their lives in the crash. Mid-State Systems had previously been cited by a traffic safety board for operating vehicles with brakes in poor repair.

Another significant incident occurred at Easton Town Center in Columbus on August 27 when a fight between teenagers escalated into gunfire. Ra’Shawyn Anthony Carter Jr., a 15-year-old, tragically lost his life shortly after the shooting. Two 13-year-olds were arrested in connection with the shootings. Easton Town Center, known for its shopping, dining, entertainment, residential, and office complex, is a popular outdoor area located along the south side of Morse Road.

In a highly publicized case, former Franklin County Sheriff’s Office SWAT deputy Jason Meade was scheduled to stand trial on October 30 for the murder of 23-year-old Casey Goodson. However, the trial has been postponed to January 25. Meade is facing charges of murder and reckless homicide for shooting Goodson as he was entering his grandmother’s Northland home on December 4, 2020. The autopsy revealed that Goodson was shot six times, with five of the shots hitting him in the back.

The release of body camera footage on September 1 shed light on the tragic death of 21-year-old Ta’Kiya Young. The footage showed Young’s interaction with two Blendon Township officers before one of them fired a single shot, killing her. The incident took place on August 24 in the parking lot of the Kroger at 5991 S. Sunbury Road. Young was accused of shoplifting from the store, and the officer fired on her when her car began rolling forward toward the police. Young’s family criticized the shooting, calling it “a hateful act” and “avoidable.” The officer who fired the shot has not been named or criminally charged.

May 6 was a particularly violent day in Columbus, with three back-to-back early morning shootings claiming the lives of three individuals. In the first shooting, which occurred at 2:30 a.m. in the 600 block of North High Street, police arrived and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Ten people were injured across two crime scenes. The second shooting took place at about 3:30 a.m. on the 1400 block of St. Clair Avenue, where five people were found with gunshot wounds. The suspect, Keith Pleasant, was later pronounced dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. One person died at the scene, and three others were transported to the hospital. In the third shooting, which happened at 4:41 a.m. on the South Side, Isaac A. Clark was charged with murder in the death of David A. Davis. Clark allegedly shot Davis during a verbal altercation and fled the scene.

On April 29, a street takeover on Johnstown Road on the East Side resulted in blocked entrances and exits to a gas station. Surveillance cameras captured footage of people stealing products from the gas station and eating food without paying for it. Street takeover events have become a growing problem in Columbus, with groups of young people taking over intersections for street racing and other activities. In June, nine adults and ten juveniles were charged in connection with the incident, and prosecutors were instructed not to offer plea deals.

A manhunt in Columbus on July 7 resulted in the arrest of two men who were wanted for an armed robbery spree. The previous day’s crime spree ended in a shootout on the interstate, leaving one officer injured and one suspect dead. Faisal M. Darod pleaded guilty to nine counts, including aiding and abetting robberies and the use of a firearm during the robberies. Aden Abdullahi Jama pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to bank robbery, as well as aiding and abetting robberies and the use of a firearm during the robberies. Sentencing hearings for both individuals are yet to be scheduled.

In a major political scandal, two former Ohio politicians, Larry Householder and Mathew Borges, were convicted of racketeering conspiracy on March 9. The former Ohio House Speaker, Householder, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Borges, the former Ohio Republican Party chair, received a five-year sentence. The convictions were related to their involvement in a $60 million bribery scheme.

A high-profile case involving two Ohio State University football players, Amir I. Riep and Jahsen L. Wint, ended in acquittal. The then-19-year-old woman accused them of raping her on February 4, 2020. However, on February 9, a Franklin County jury found both players not guilty on all charges, including rape and kidnapping.

Tragedy struck on July 8 when a shootout between multiple Columbus police officers and at least one Franklin County sheriff’s deputy resulted in the death of a man. The incident occurred in the 3000 and 3100 blocks of East Livingston Avenue, near James Road. The man, identified as Antwan Lindsey, was reportedly upset that his car had been towed and was armed with a gun. Police body camera footage revealed that Lindsey was repeatedly asked to put his hands up but did not comply. Lindsey was shot 15 times and died from his injuries. The names of the officers involved have not been released due to privacy concerns under Marsy’s Law.

In Lawrence County, a bus crash on July 8 injured 20 people and claimed the life of one student. The crash occurred when a minivan entered the lane of a bus carrying 52 children from Northwestern Local Schools. One student was ejected from the bus and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the minivan, Hermanio Joseph, was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide. A trial date for Joseph is yet to be determined.

These are just some of the crime, public safety, and criminal justice stories that captured readers’ attention in central Ohio during 2023. As we move into 2024, The Dispatch will continue to follow up on these incidents and provide updates on the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings.

Jordan Laird contributed to this report.

Contact bagallion@dispatch.com for more information.

[Heading 1] Shootings, Homicides, and a Tragic Crash: A Violent Year for Central Ohio

[Heading 2] Fiery Bus Crash on I-70 Claims Six Lives

[Paragraph] The most-read public safety story of 2023 was a devastating bus crash on I-70 in Licking County. On November 14, a chain-reaction crash occurred as all vehicles were traveling westbound. A tractor-trailer operated by Hebron-based Mid-State Systems failed to slow down, colliding with an SUV and striking the back of a charter bus carrying Tuscarawas High School students. The crash resulted in the deaths of three students and three chaperones. Mid-State Systems had previously been cited for operating vehicles with poor brake conditions.

[Heading 2] Teenage Fight Escalates to Gunfire at Easton Town Center

[Paragraph] A fight between teenagers at Easton Town Center in Columbus turned deadly on August 27 when gunfire erupted. Ra’Shawyn Anthony Carter Jr., a 15-year-old, tragically lost his life, and two 13-year-olds were arrested in connection with the shootings. Easton Town Center, a popular outdoor area, was the backdrop for this tragic incident.

[Heading 2] Former SWAT Deputy’s Murder Trial Delayed

[Paragraph] Jason Meade, a former Franklin County Sheriff’s Office SWAT deputy, was scheduled to stand trial on October 30 for the murder of Casey Goodson. However, the trial has been postponed to January 25. Meade is facing charges of murder and reckless homicide for shooting Goodson as he entered his grandmother’s Northland home. The autopsy revealed that Goodson was shot six times, with five of the shots hitting him in the back.

[Heading 2] Fatal Police Shooting Sparks Controversy

[Paragraph] The release of body camera footage on September 1 shed light on the tragic death of 21-year-old Ta’Kiya Young. Young was shot and killed by a Blendon Township officer on August 24 in the parking lot of a Kroger store. The officer fired a single shot, claiming that Young’s car was rolling forward towards the police. Young’s family criticized the shooting, calling it “a hateful act” and “avoidable.”

[Heading 2] Three Back-to-Back Shootings Shake Columbus

[Paragraph] May 6 was a day marred by violence in Columbus, with three back-to-back early morning shootings. The first incident occurred in the 600 block of North High Street, where gunfire exchanged between police and a suspect resulted in injuries to ten people. The second shooting took place on the 1400 block of St. Clair Avenue, leaving one person dead and three others injured. The third shooting, on the South Side, resulted in the arrest of Isaac A. Clark, who was charged with murder in the death of David A. Davis.

[Heading 2] Street Takeover Leads to Charges

[Paragraph] On April 29, a street takeover on Johnstown Road caused chaos and led to charges against several individuals. The incident involved blocked entrances and exits to a gas station, theft of products, and people eating food without paying. Street takeovers have become a growing concern in Columbus, with groups of young people participating in street racing and other illegal activities.

[Heading 2] Manhunt Ends with Arrests

[Paragraph] A manhunt in Columbus on July 7 resulted in the arrest of two individuals wanted for an armed robbery spree. Faisal M. Darod and Aden Abdullahi Jama were apprehended after a shootout on the interstate. Darod pleaded guilty to multiple charges, while Jama pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to bank robbery. Sentencing hearings for both men are yet to be scheduled.

[Heading 2] Former Ohio Politicians Convicted in Bribery Scheme

[Paragraph] Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party chair Mathew Borges were convicted of racketeering conspiracy on March 9. The convictions were related to their involvement in a $60 million bribery scheme. Householder received a 20-year prison sentence, while Borges was sentenced to five years.

[Heading 2] Acquittal in Ohio State Football Rape Case

[Paragraph] Amir I. Riep and Jahsen L. Wint, former Ohio State University football players, were acquitted on all charges in a rape case. The charges.