Oscar winner Spike Lee has paid tribute to actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, who has been shot and killed in the US.
Writing on Instagram, Lee called the actor his “beloved brother”, adding: “Tom is my guy.”
The 70-year-old had starred in many of Lee’s films, including Clockers, Bamboozled and Chi-Raq.
Police were called to Belvedere Avenue, south west Atlanta, on Saturday, where Byrd was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the back.
He was identified and pronounced dead by the emergency services, Atlanta police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant told US media.
Police are working to determine the circumstances, said Mr Grant. Lee described Byrd’s death as a “tragic murder” on his Instagram account.
Viola Davis, who had also worked alongside Byrd, also tweeted her shock at the news. (BBC)
