Actor
Thomas
Jefferson
Byrd
died
at
the
age
of
70
in
Atlanta,
Georgia.
The
Atlanta
Police
Department
told
Fox
News
that
the
actor
died
in
a
shooting.
Writer-director
Spike
Lee,
who
frequently
worked
with
Byrd
shared
the
news
on
Instagram.
He
posted
a
still
of
Byrd
from
Clockers
and
wrote,
"I'm
So
Sad
To
Announce
The
Tragic
Murder
Of
Our
Beloved
Brother
Thomas
Jefferson
Byrd
Last
Night
In
Atlanta,
Georgia.
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."
The
Police
Statement
Says
Byrd
Was
Shot
Thrice
Fox
News
quoted
the
police
statement
saying
that
officers
were
dispatched
on
Saturday
at
1:45
am
and
"located
a
male
lying
unresponsive
at
the
location," who
was
later
identified
as
Byrd.
He
was
pronounced
"deceased
from
multiple
gunshot
wounds
to
the
back."
It
also
added,
"Homicide
detectives
responded
to
the
scene
and
are
working
to
determine
the
circumstances
surrounding
the
incident.
The
investigation
continues
at
this
time."
Craig
Wyckoff
On
Byrd's
Death
To
Fox
News
The
Fox
News
reports
said
all
information
is
"preliminary
in
nature
and
could
change
as
the
investigation
progresses
or
new
information
comes
to
light.".
Byrd's
friend
and
former
representation
Craig
Wyckoff,
told
Fox
News
that
Byrd
got
into
an
argument
at
a
store
before
driving
home.
He
added
that
the
person
Byrd
argued
with
followed
him
and
shot
Byrd
three
times
in
the
back,
killing
him.
Thomas
Jefferson
Byrd
Dies
At
70
Notably,
Thomas
Jefferson
Byrd
was
known
for
his
roles
in
Set
It
Off,
He
Got
Game
and
Ray.
He
was
nominated
for
a
Tony
in
2003
for
his
performance
in
Ma
Rainey's
Black
Bottom.