A 32-year-old resident of Woodstock, Alabama, and a key figure in the popular “S-Town” podcast was fatally shot by police during a standoff in the early hours of Sunday, December 3, 2023, authorities confirmed.
Tyler Goodson, known for his significant role in the “S-Town” podcast, barricaded himself inside his home. Authorities reported that he pulled out a gun during the standoff, which led to his fatal shooting by the officers on the scene.
The shooting occurred after the Woodstock Police Department responded to a call for service at Goodson’s residence. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency did not specify the nature of the initial call.
Goodson, in a Facebook post shortly before the incident, said, “Police bout to shoot me down in my own yard.” He was pronounced dead at the scene following the confrontation.
The “S-Town” podcast, which won a Peabody Award in 2017, told the story of John B. McLemore, a resident of Woodstock who died by suicide. The podcast highlighted McLemore’s complex relationship with the town and its residents, including Goodson, who regarded McLemore as a father figure.
Goodson’s involvement in the podcast brought significant attention to both him and the small town of Woodstock, which has a population of about 1,500 people, located 35 miles southwest of Birmingham, Alabama.
He had faced legal challenges in the past. In 2017, he received a suspended sentence for burglary and theft charges related to taking items from McLemore’s property after his death. He claimed that he was retrieving items that belonged to him. He expressed that the attention brought by the podcast did not benefit him or the town, remarking, “It’s a sad story, especially if you’re part of it.”
Woodstock Mayor Jeff Dodson, in a statement, urged the public to remember Goodson as more than just a character from the podcast, highlighting his roles as a father, son, brother, and friend. Dodson emphasized his significance in the community, noting that he was well-known and loved beyond his portrayal in “S-Town.”
Goodson is survived by his five children.
