He was sentenced Thursday by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer McElfresh.
Prosecutors indicated the shooting was captured on surveillance video. The shooting occurred about 2:25 a.m. and Goens, 23, of Hudson Avenue, was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He later died of his injuries.
A second person, Torriauno McCullough II, 24, of Stephens Street, was wounded when a bullet grazed his right arm.
McDonald was convicted in 2009 of felonious assault and given a seven-year prison sentence, according to Butler County Common Pleas Court records. He was released on parole in October, according the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
Defense Attorney David Washington told the judge that McDonald has a loving and supportive family and that what occurred was tragic. McDonald’s mother and aunt spoke on his behalf, calling for an end to violence on the streets.
A the time of his death, Goens was being a peacemaker after an argument broke out that did not involve him, Washington said.
“Mr. Goens wasn’t the target. He was not engaging in any bad conduct at the time. He (McDonald) wants the family to know that,” Washington said during sentencing.
McDonald did apologize to Goens’ family, but it took him several minutes and the encouragement of his defense attorney to do so.
“It’s hard,” McDonald said to Washington.
The attorney answered back, “I know it is hard … talk to this family, tell them what you told me … it is your life.”
“I apologize,” McDonald finally said. “I hope one day you can forgive me.”
He also apologized to his own family.
McDonald told the judge that he takes full responsibility for his actions and said he thought his life was in danger.
“I fired a warning shot,” McDonald told the judge.
Goens’ mother Sheila McCloud clutched three photos of her son as she stood just a few feet away from McDonald.
“You made a conscious decision to shoot an unarmed man who had his hands up on submission,” McCloud said. “You had enough time to give a warning shot, why didn’t you leave? That’s why black lives don’t matter, because black people don’t think.”
“You took my son’s life. You chose to,” McCloud continued. “Someday, because God says I have to, I will forgive you. I have to forgive you because that is the Christ-like thing to do. I want people to see more Christ in me than the ugliness they see in people.”
About the Author
