ORIENT, Ohio – The Pickaway County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing possible criminal charges in the shooting death of an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections lieutenant during a training exercise at the Corrections Training Academy in Orient.
The Guardian was the first to break the tragic story of Lt. Rodney Osborne’s death in April. The incident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on April 9, 2024, during a special prison response team exercise. Osborne was shot in the chest and was transported to Mount Carmel in Grove City. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Osborne was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Osborne, an “exempt” employee who supervised correctional officers, was assigned to Lucasville. A respected figure within the department, Osborne had served as a 13-year employee at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF). He was a member of SOCF’s honor guard, Special Response Team (SRT), and the statewide STAR team. His colleagues had recently named him their Employee of the Year.
ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith expressed her condolences, stating, “Lt. Osborne was a beloved 13-year employee at SOCF. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Member Support Team and the ODRC Employee Support Teams have been activated and have been with our staff.”
The Ohio Highway Patrol continues to investigate Osborne’s death as a reckless homicide. West Regional Special Operations Commander David Pearson was subsequently placed on administrative leave while the investigation unfolded.
On Monday, the Guardian spoke with Pickaway County Prosecutor Judy Wolford, who said, “All I can confirm at this time is that we have received information from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.”
The Guardian will continue to monitor this case and bring you the latest developments.