
Suit against sheriff dismissed after inmate’s stabbing death inside courthouse
by: David Royer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A suit against Sheriff Floyd Bonner and Shelby County that was filed by the family of a man stabbed to death in a courtroom last year has been dismissed by a judge.
Deion Byrd died after he was allegedly stabbed in the neck with a shank by another inmate while he was in a holding cell awaiting a court appearance at the Shelby County Jail on Oct. 23.
Donnie Clay, 21, was charged with First Degree Murder and Taking Contraband Into a Penal Facility in Byrd’s death. That case is ongoing.
Byrd’s family, assisted by attorney Ben Crump, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the sheriff, alleging negligence and dangerous conditions at the county’s jail that led to a 14th Amendment violation of Byrd’s right’s
But a judge said those claims were not proven and dismissed the suit Aug. 13.
Byrd was in court on a first-degree murder charge at the time of his death.
The two inmates were allegedly left unattended in the courthouse when Byrd reportedly accused Clay of breaking into his home. Clay denied the accusation and Byrd allegedly spit in his face.
Clay then told him, “I’m going to kill you now,” and chased him with a sharpened piece of metal.