Thomas Jefferson Byrd, an actor in several of Spike Lee's films, was killed in Atlanta on Saturday (Oct 3), the Atlanta Police Department confirmed to Variety. He was 70.
On Saturday, Atlanta police officers were dispatched to 2259 Belvedere Avenue, responding to a call about an injured person at 1.45am. Upon arrival, officers located Byrd lying unresponsive at the location.
Emergency medial services responded to the scene, identified Byrd and pronounced him dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the back.
Homicide detectives are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the investigation is currently ongoing.
The Atlanta Police Department tells Variety that the information is preliminary in nature and could change as the investigation continues or new information comes to light.
Byrd appeared in several of Lee's films, including Clockers, Get On The Bus, Bamboozled, Chi-Raq, Red Hook Summer, Girl 6 and Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus.
He also had roles in Antoine Fuqua's Brooklyn's Finest, Jamie Foxx's Ray Charles biopic Ray and F. Gary Gray's Set It Off.
Lee paid tribute to him on Instagram on Sunday (Oct 4) and has shared six posts on Byrd so far.
"I'm so sad to announce the tragic murder of our beloved brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd last night in Atlanta, Georgia. Tom is my guy. Here below you see him as the frightening character Errol Barnes in CLOCKERS. Brother Byrd also did his thang in my joints -- CHI-RAQ, SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS, RED HOOK SUMMER, BAMBOOZLED, HE GOT GAME, GET ON THE BUS, GIRL 6 and CLOCKERS. May we all wish condolences and blessings to his family. Rest in peace brother Byrd," Lee wrote on his first post. – Reuters
Our Brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd As Da Pimp “SWEETNESS” Of Coney Island In HE GOT GAME. Photo By David Lee. May Brother Byrd Be Flying Through Those Heavenly Pearly Gates. AMEN A post shared by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Oct 4,2020 at 8:18pm PDT
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