Thomas Jefferson Byrd, who acted in a number of Spike Lee films, was killed in Atlanta on Saturday, Variety report

Authorities arrived at the scene of his murder on Saturday around 1:45 a.m. after a call came in about an injured person who was unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his back. Emergency medical services then pronounced Bryd dead.

Detectives are investigating the incident, with the APD telling Variety that any information they have is exploratory at the moment and could change as new evidence comes to light.

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Byrd was perhaps best known for starring in a string of Lee’s movies, including Clockers, Get on the Bus, Bamboozled, Chi-Raq, Red Hook Summer, Girl 6, and Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. Byrd was also in Antoine Fuqua’s Brooklyn’s Finest, Jamie Foxx’s Ray Charles biopic, Ray, and F. Gary Gray’s Set It Off.

Lee honoured Byrd’s life on Instagram on Sunday.

“I’m so sad to announce the tragic murder of our beloved brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd last night in Atlanta, Georgia,” Lee wrote. “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.”