Joseph Lovell Givens, a 34-year-old African American man from Columbus, Ohio, tragically passed away on May 10, 2014. Givens was known to his community as a business owner and a loving family man. He was born on March 7, 1980, to Cassandra Givens and Isaac Joseph Brown Jr. He attended Brookhaven High School and completed a certification program at Columbus State Community College in 2009.
Givens was the proud owner of "All Year Round" since 2006.
On the night of his death, Givens was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis. According to reports, he was acting erratically and was seen running up and down Jonathan Drive in Columbus. The police were called to the scene, and Officers Stephen Asch and Kyle Beatty responded to the incident. Witnesses stated that Givens was carrying a knife and was behaving in a manner that alarmed residents. The officers claimed that Givens ran toward them with the knife, prompting them to use deadly force.
The shooting led to significant controversy and legal action. In May 2016, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the City of Columbus and the Columbus Police Department by Walton + Brown LLP on behalf of Givens' estate. The lawsuit alleged that the officers used excessive force and failed to follow police directives for dealing with mentally ill individuals. The suit also criticized the city's hiring practices, particularly regarding Officer Asch, who had a history of excessive force complaints and had been denied employment by multiple law enforcement agencies before being hired by Columbus.
Despite the lawsuit, a Franklin County grand jury declined to indict the officers, and a police internal review board found that the shooting did not violate division policy. The case highlighted issues of police use of force, particularly against minorities and individuals with mental health issues.
Joseph Givens' death left a profound impact on his family and community. He is remembered fondly by his mother, Cassandra Givens; his lifelong partner, Sheronda Byrd-Givens; and his children, Nazje' Byrd-Givens, Justin Sellers, Nyazia Givens, and Nyzara'e Givens. His passing was a tragic loss, and his memory continues to be honored by those who knew and loved him.
