MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Shelby County Grand Jury has indicted a man on murder charges after an inmate at the Shelby County Jail was stabbed to death in late October.
According to court records, Donnie Clay, was indicted on Sept. 3, 2024, on charges of first degree murder and possessing a contraband in a penal institution. Clay remains in the Shelby County Jail without bond in the murder case.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office said they were investigating a stabbing incident of a jail inmate by another at 201 Poplar around 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2023. He was taken in critical condition to Regional One Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
On Thursday afternoon, the Sheriff's Office identified the victim as 25-year-old Deion Byrd.
The stabbing occurred in the inmate holding area for Division I Criminal Court, according to court records. Byrd, who was in handcuffs, had been waiting to be taken back to the jail when witnesses say he approached Clay, accusing the man of breaking into his home. Clay denied the wrongdoing, and Byrd spat in his face.
Clay then said, "I'm gonna kill you now," and took a sharp metal from his waistband, witnesses stated according to records. Clay chased Byrd into a nearby room and stabbed Byrd at least once in the neck. Byrd ran from the room as a deputy entered the inmate area.
Byrd was then taken to the hospital, where he died.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office released a statement on the stabbing:
"Shelby County Jail resident Donnie Clay has been charged with First Degree Murder and Possession of Contraband in a Penal Facility in connection with the death of resident Deion Byrd on October 26 at the Criminal Justice Complex. He is due back in court next week. Mr. Clay is accused of stabbing Mr. Byrd in the holding area behind a criminal courtroom.
The Sheriff’s Office is reviewing this tragic event and would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the family of Mr. Byrd. The Bureau of Professional Standards and Integrity is focusing on internal failures that led to this unfortunate incident, while the command staff is reviewing changes, improvements, and training that we hope will prevent such an occurrence in the future."
According to court records, Byrd was charged with first-degree murder, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault and several other charges for an incident in January. He was also arrested back in June on charges including burglary of a business, auto theft, theft from a motor vehicle, unlawful possession and prohibited weapons after the Memphis Police Department conducted Operation Broken Bottles.
Records showed that Clay had been set to appear in court the day of the stabbing for a rape of a child charge.
Clay was also indicted on Nov. 30, 2023, on charges of evading arrest and theft in a March 2023 crash in a stolen car, according to court records.