PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — David Pearson, a former firearms instructor for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, was sentenced Thursday to six months in jail and fined $1,000 for the accidental shooting that resulted in the death of Lieutenant Rodney Osborne during a training session earlier this year in Pickaway County.
Pearson, who initially pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligent homicide, changed his plea to guilty earlier this month. The incident occurred on April 9 at the Corrections Training Academy in Orient, where Osborne was participating in a 40-hour training course for the Special Tactics and Response Team (S.T.A.R.).
According to court documents and statements provided by attorneys, Pearson was demonstrating a “mirror drill” where he stood face-to-face with Osborne to help him with a drawing technique. The drill involved both men drawing their pistols simultaneously. However, during this exercise, Pearson’s firearm discharged, fatally wounding Osborne in the chest, just above his bulletproof vest.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) had been investigating Osborne’s death as a reckless homicide. Their report highlighted that the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s (ODRC) official procedures do not include or reference the “mirror drill” performed by Pearson. The OSHP noted that Pearson’s actions did not align with ODRC policy for safely pointing a firearm at another person, leading to the tragic outcome.
Osborne, a 13-year veteran of the ODRC, was stationed at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Scioto County. He had been lauded as the employee of the year at the facility and commanded the Special Response Team. His untimely death has been mourned by colleagues and the community, with many remembering him for his dedication and service.
Following the incident, Pearson was placed on administrative leave and subsequently terminated from his position with the ODRC in August. The fallout from this event has spurred discussions about training safety protocols within correctional facilities.
The sentencing of Pearson marks a somber conclusion to the case, with Osborne’s family and colleagues grappling with the loss of a respected officer. The incident has also prompted a review of training practices to prevent future tragedies of this nature.