A 32-year-old man from the popular podcast S-Town was shot and killed during a confrontation with Alabama police on Saturday, but details about what led to the deadly encounter remain scarce.
Woodstock police were called to the home of Tyler Goodson – best known for his role on the investigative journalism podcast “S-Town” created by Serial and This American Life – who had reportedly barricaded himself in his home.
When officers arrived at the 500 block of Georgia Loop after midnight on Sunday, Goodson allegedly brandished a gun at the officers, leading to a three-hour standoff.
Before his death, he posted a terrifying message on Facebook at 1:39 a.m. on Sunday that read: “The police want to shoot me in my own garden.”
It remains unclear who called 911 or what the reported situation was that led to a police response.
Woodstock police were called to the home of Tyler Goodson (pictured), a central figure in the investigative journalism podcast, “S-Town,” created by Serial and This American Life
Goodson allegedly barricaded himself in his Alabama home, located along the 500 block of Georgia Loop, in the early hours of Sunday. Goodson had brandished a gun at officers before he was shot, authorities said
Goodson worked as a tattoo artist and factory worker, who also spent time repairing items on his property
The community mourned Goodson's unexpected death, including Woodstock Mayor Jeff Dodson. Dodson expressed his sadness upon hearing the news of Goodson's shock death.
In the letter, the mayor also apologized for revealing Goodson's name before his family was notified.
'Yesterday I woke up to the news of a tragedy. I do not believe I had the right to do that until 24 hours had passed before his family could be notified,” Dodson wrote.
“Now that this time has passed, I am devastated to let you know that Tyler Goodson was the young man involved,” he said in part.
“I know everyone wants answers and details, including myself. Tyler was known and loved by me, his family and this community. That love extends much further thanks to the S-Town podcast.
“Please remember in this moment that he is so much more than a character to the fans who loved him. This young man was a father, son, brother and friend to many.”
Dodson said it was unfortunate that multiple law enforcement agencies were called in for support during the standoff and the police He spent three hours trying to talk him out of the house.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is now in charge of the case. Officials from the Woodstock Police Department and the department did not respond to this report in a timely manner.
It remains unclear who called 911 or what the reported situation was that led to a police response. Goodson's rise to fame came shortly after the launch of 'S-Town' in March 2017. The podcast revolved around the death of John B. McLemore, a clock repairman, who talked about what he didn't like about his Alabama town. Goodson has called McLemore a father figure.
The blue-eyed, bearded Goodson, a native of the town of Woodstock, population 1,500, worked as a tattoo artist and factory worker.
His rise to fame came shortly after the launch of 'S-Town' in March 2017. The podcast revolved around John B. McLemore, a clock repairman, talking about what he didn't like about his town in Alabama.
The podcast focuses on the towns of Woodstock and Green Pond, where strangers now occasionally stop by to take selfies at locations from the show or place a dime on the grave of the main character, McLemore, who committed suicide by drinking cyanide before the show started. out.
Goodson has called McLemore a father figure.
McLemore was a native of Bibb County and sent an email to producers of the podcast “This American Life” with the subject line “John B McLemore lives in S-town, Alabama.”
S-Town tells the story of an alleged murder and another death, ultimately focusing on McLemore's tortured relationship with the town of Woodstock, his own inner demons, and Goodson.
S-Town took shape when Brian Reed, an investigative journalist and producer of This American Life, agreed to meet with McLemore five years ago to investigate an unsolved murder.
Reed determined the murder never happened, but developed a close friendship with the erratic clock restorer who committed suicide on the porch of his rural Alabama home in June 2015.
Rather than give up on his project, Reed began piecing together the labyrinthine mysteries of McLemore's eccentric life, from the giant maze he built on his land to the rumored treasure trove of gold he buried beneath it.
The setting for this twisting story is S-Town, McLemore's unflattering nickname for his small hometown of Woodstock, where Goodson says he is public enemy number one.
According to published reports, S-Town was downloaded forty million times in 114 countries. It was filmed and filmed in the town of Woodstock. The podcast had also won a Peabody Award in 2017.
In 2017, Goodson also pleaded guilty to burglary and other charges for taking lumber, old vehicles and a laptop from McLemore's property.