Lt. Rodney Osborne, a 43-year-old corrections officer from Orient, Ohio, tragically lost his life on April 9, 2024, during a training exercise at the Corrections Training Academy in Orient. The incident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. during a special prison response team exercise.
Osborne, a respected 13-year employee of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, was assigned to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville.
He was a member of SOCF's honor guard, Special Response Team (SRT), and the statewide STAR team. Just days before his death, Osborne had been named Employee of the Year by his colleagues.
The fatal incident took place at the tactical firing range of the Corrections Training Academy. David Pearson, the West Regional Special Operations Commander and firearms instructor, was leading the training session. During a "mirror drill" exercise, where Osborne was supposed to mirror Pearson's actions, Pearson fired a live round that struck Osborne in the chest. Pearson reportedly believed his gun contained blank ammunition.
Following the shooting, Osborne was rushed to Mount Carmel in Grove City, where he was pronounced deceased despite efforts to resuscitate him. The Ohio Highway Patrol initially investigated Osborne's death as a reckless homicide, and Pearson was placed on administrative leave.
On December 9, 2024, David Pearson pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in connection with Osborne's death. Pearson had initially pleaded not guilty to charges on August 8 but later accepted responsibility for the incident. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction terminated Pearson's employment on September 3, citing numerous employee conduct violations related to the fatal accident.
Lt. Osborne is survived by his wife and three children. His untimely death has deeply affected the corrections community, with many colleagues and fellow officers expressing their condolences and honoring his service.
