Thomas Jefferson Byrd, who is known for appearing in several Spike Lee movies, is dead in an apparent shooting in Atlanta, Georgia.

According to the Atlanta Department, Byrd, 70, was fatally shot on Saturday. The law enforcement authority said that the police officers responded to a 2259 Belvedere Avenue call about a reported injured person. The officers found Thomas Jefferson Byrd lying unresponsive at the location upon arrival, as per the Variety report.

Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, 70, Fatally Shot in Atlanta
(Photo : Peter Kramer)
Rehearsals For "Red Herring" NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS) (L-R) Director Jonathan Silverstein and actors Thomas Jefferson Byrd and Shane McRae pose for pictures at the rehearsals for the upcoming play "Red Herring" which is produced by American Idol finalist Katherine McPhee at The Players Theatre on August 9, 2006 in New York City.

Accordng to IB Times, an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team arrived at the scene and identified Byrd as the one who had been severely injured due to multiple gunshot wounds at his back. The EMS team later pronounced Byrd dead shortly after they arrived.

The Atlanta Police Department is currently investigating the actor's death, the media outlet also reported. The law enforcement authority told Variety that all the details they have gathered are still preliminary and could change as Byrd's death investigation continues.

Spike Lee paid Tribute to actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd

Spike Lee paid tribute to the late actor through a touching post on Instagram. Lee called Thomas Jefferson Byrd's death as a "murder." The filmmaker mentioned the projects that he and Byrd worked on and extended his condolences to Thomas' family.

"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 thing 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 blessings and condolences to his family. Rest in peace, brother Byrd," Lee wrote on Instagram.

The 70-year-old actor had starred in several of Lee's films, including Bamboozled, Clockers, and Chi-Raq. Filmmaker Lee described Thomas Jefferson Byrd's death as a "tragic murder." BBC reported that police are working to identify the circumstances, Mr.Grant said. Viola Davis, who also worked alongside Byrd, also expressed her shock at the news through a Twitter post.

Simultaneously, The Wire star Wendell Pierce and Jack Ryan also paid tribute and posted a thread for the late actor on Twitter.


Byrd also appeared in other Spike Lee movies such as Red Hook Summer, Girl 6, Get on the Bus, Opposite Denzel Washington and Milla Jovovich, and Da Sweet Blood of Jesus and He Got Game.

In the 1995 film Clockers, Byrd and Lee first collaborated. Lee, the director, shared two clips featuring Thomas Jefferson Byrd, who played Eric Byrne, a violent enforcer. Byrd also appeared in Jamie Foxx's Ray Charles biopic Ray.

In 2003, Byrd's theatre work earned him a Tony nomination for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, where he starred opposite Whoopi Goldberg.

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