Suspect in murder of actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd arrested by police drone flown into his apartment
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Atlanta police used a drone to arrest a man suspected of murdering Thomas Jefferson Byrd, an actor who appeared in several Spike Lee films.
The Atlanta Police Department shared the dramatic video footage on Twitter. In the video, the drone enters the suspect’s apartment after the entrance is blown. It appears to survey the inside before the suspect walks out from a back room with his hands up.
APD homicide detectives used @StopCrimeATL tips & drone technology to arrest the suspect in the murder of Thomas Jefferson Byrd who was killed on October 3rd. Antonio Demetrice Rhynes was arrested with the help of APD's Fugitive, SWAT, & Homicide Units. https://t.co/kThNauZKJY pic.twitter.com/mlfpqdZc2b
— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) October 16, 2020
Police have identified the suspect as 30-year-old Antonio Demetrice Rhynes. He is accused of fatally shooting Mr Byrd earlier this month in southwest Atlanta.
Mr Byrd, 70, appeared in several Spike Lee movies, including Clockers, Get on the Bus, Bamboozled, He Got Game and Red Hook Summer, among others.
He was found dead on 3 October near his home with multiple gunshot wounds in his back. Police had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Lee broke the news of Byrd’s death, writing on his Instagram: “I’m So Sad To Announce The Tragic Murder Of Our Beloved Brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd Last Night In Atlanta, Georgia … May We All Wish Condolences And Blessings To His Family. Rest In Peace Brother Byrd.”
A post shared by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Oct 4, 2020 at 10:40am PDT
Mr Rhynes is being held at the Fulton County Jail and is facing felony murder charges, Atlanta’s WSB-TV reported. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
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