By Lentrell Myers
The family of Byron Jackson, a 45-year-old Black man who died while in the custody of the Irmo Police Department, joined renowned civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers for a news conference on Tuesday, July 14. The family is looking for answers.
On Sunday, June 22, 2025, Byron Jackson was taken into custody by the Irmo Police department (IPD) after a altercation with two IPD officers. Jackson mysteriously died while in custody and the police department refuses to reveal the names of the officers and body cam footage.
The family is asking questions about the use of force, transparency and accountability and didn’t receive any answers.
“The incident began at the top of a ravine and ended at the bottom of a ravine,” said attorney Sellers. “That’s all we know. The family doesn’t know the cause of death, even though he has been buried already. The family doesn’t know what happened at all. He was handcuffed and died at the hospital.”
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, June 22, 2025, has raised serious questions about use of force, transparency and accountability sparking criticism of the Irmo Police Department particularly about the department’s failure to notify the public about the incident until five days after it occurred and mere minutes before offices closed for a week in recognition of Independence Day.
According to that release,
the press conference.
IPD officers took Jackson into custody following a brief chase. After what the department described as an altercation with two officers, Jackson began having difficulty breathing and died after being transported to the hospital.
According to Chief Dale, IPD was notified of Jackson’s death on Wednesday, June 25 but failed to notify the public until 4:36 PM on Friday, June 27. Dale and the IPD also failed to release any other details surrounding the incident or the officers involved sparking new calls for accountability.
“Byron was my son. He was a father, a brother and so much more,” said Jackson’s mother Bettie Turner Jackson. “He didn’t deserve to die like that and they tried to sweep him under the rug hoping no one would notice.”
“Once again we see law enforcement refusing to release bodycam video by claiming there’s an ongoing investigation and it’s out of their hands,” said Sellers.
“That’s just nonsense. They release video all the time when they’re looking for a suspect in an ongoing investigation. They only refuse when they’re the suspects.”
“Chief Dale says his department is committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring the public’s trust. This is the time to prove it.”
Sellers says he and the family are currently looking at all avenues to seek justice for Jackson including a potential lawsuit.