Robert Goodson Jr

Do you know who killed 37 year old Robert Goodson Jr in 2009?
Robert Goodson Jr., a 37-year-old African-American man known to friends and family as a good person, was a cook in Tallahassee, Florida. He was a father to a daughter, Tajiana, and a son to Shirley Harris and Robert Goodson Sr. He also had two brothers, Rufus Campbell Jr. and Maurice T. Goodson. Remembered by one friend as being "not only a friend but like family," Robert was part of a large circle of relatives and friends who mourned his sudden and violent death just three days before Christmas.

On the evening of Tuesday, December 22, 2009, the Tallahassee Police Department received calls reporting gunfire in the area of 1104 Old Bainbridge Road. When officers arrived at the address, they discovered a grim scene in the parking lot. Robert Goodson Jr. and another person were found with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services responded, but Robert’s injuries were too severe, and he died at the scene. The second victim was also seriously injured but survived the attack.

The initial investigation provided a critical but fleeting lead. A witness reported seeing a Black male driving away from the scene in a silver, Monte Carlo-style vehicle. According to the witness, the man was holding a gun out of the car's window as he fled. Despite this description, the identity of the shooter and the motive for the attack remained a mystery. The Tallahassee Police Department processed the scene for evidence and interviewed potential witnesses, but the case quickly grew cold.

For more than a decade, Robert's murder has remained unsolved, leaving his family and community without answers or justice. His case is one of several dozen cold cases of homicide and missing persons that continue to puzzle investigators in Florida's capital city. There have been no arrests, and no suspects have been publicly named in connection with his killing. The case file has been passed down through generations of detectives, a silent testament to a life cut short.

In July 2023, a new effort was launched to tackle unsolved crimes in the region. The Big Bend Cold Case Task Force was formed, combining resources and personnel from the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Second Circuit State's Attorney Office. Robert Goodson Jr.'s case is now among those under review by this multi-agency team, which hopes that fresh eyes and collaborative investigation may uncover new leads.

The investigation into the murder of Robert Goodson Jr. is ongoing. Authorities continue to seek information from the public that might help them finally close the case. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Big Bend Cold Case Task Force at 850-410-7611 or Big Bend Crime Stoppers, where tips can be submitted anonymously.