Byron Jackson Obituary, Death Cause: 45-Year-Old North Augusta Man Dies After Physical Altercation During Police Custody in Irmo, South Carolina; SLED Launches Independent Investigation Amid Calls for Transparency and Accountability

In the pre-dawn stillness of Sunday, June 22, 2025, a routine police response in Irmo, South Carolina spiraled into a fatal encounter that has since ignited pressing questions about policing, in-custody procedures, and transparency. At the center of this developing and emotionally charged case is Byron Jackson, a 45-year-old resident of North Augusta, who was identified by Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford as the man who died shortly after being restrained by officers with the Irmo Police Department. His death occurred under the watch of law enforcement, following what authorities described as a brief vehicular pursuit and a physical confrontation, and it has now triggered a full-scale investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

The incident began just after 2:00 a.m. in the New Friarsgate neighborhood, a typically quiet Irmo subdivision where residents had reported a possible fight occurring inside a vehicle. Responding officers attempted to approach the scene, but the situation escalated rapidly when the vehicle in question fled. A short chase ensued, ending near a Dollar General store on Broad River Road. It was there, in the shadow of a roadside business, that the encounter took a fatal turn.

Jackson, who was driving the vehicle, allegedly engaged in a physical struggle with officers after coming to a stop. Authorities have yet to specify the duration or nature of the confrontation, but it culminated in his arrest. What followed, however, was a rapid deterioration in Jackson’s physical state. Officials reported that he began experiencing severe difficulty breathing soon after being restrained. Emergency medical services were called to the scene, and officers reportedly administered life-saving measures alongside paramedics as they transported Jackson to the hospital. Despite their efforts, Jackson’s condition worsened, and he died shortly afterward.

By Monday, June 23, SLED had been officially brought in to conduct an independent investigation—an automatic procedural step in any in-custody death or incident involving potential use of force. The presence of SLED introduces a level of external oversight that is meant to ensure neutrality and accountability, particularly in high-stakes cases where a civilian dies during or following police intervention. The agency’s review will examine every phase of the encounter—from the initial 911 call, to the vehicle pursuit, to the moment Jackson lost consciousness, and the quality and timing of the medical response.

In parallel with SLED’s probe, the two Irmo police officers directly involved in Jackson’s arrest have been placed on administrative leave. This, too, is standard protocol, designed to separate those under review from active duty until the investigation yields conclusions. While this step is procedural, its significance is not lost on a public that has grown increasingly vigilant and skeptical in the aftermath of previous high-profile in-custody deaths across the United States.

At this time, many of the details surrounding Jackson’s final moments remain shrouded in uncertainty. Officials have not disclosed whether the officers used specific restraining techniques—such as chokeholds, prone positioning, or tasers—nor have they clarified how long Jackson was restrained before showing signs of respiratory distress. It is also unknown whether Jackson suffered from any pre-existing medical conditions, or whether any intoxicants may have been present in his system. Toxicology and autopsy results, which could shed critical light on the physiological factors at play, have not yet been made public.

In the absence of those details, speculation and concern have naturally filled the void. Jackson’s death fits within a larger and increasingly scrutinized category of fatal incidents that occur during police interactions—cases in which the use of force, however brief or restrained, intersects with complex health outcomes, often under extreme stress or physical exertion. Nationwide, such cases have spurred widespread calls for reform, increased training in de-escalation, and the deployment of non-lethal alternatives for managing potentially volatile encounters.

What separates Byron Jackson’s case from a purely statistical entry in that larger pattern is its immediate impact on a local level. For the Irmo community—where police-related deaths are exceedingly rare—the incident has triggered unease, mourning, and a demand for answers. For Jackson’s family, the sudden loss of a loved one, under unclear and controversial circumstances, is an immeasurable burden. In the days since his death, grief has likely mingled with questions that remain unanswered: Was every necessary precaution taken? Were proper protocols followed? Could his death have been prevented?

Although Jackson’s name was not widely known before that early Sunday morning, his death has now thrust him into the center of a broader dialogue—one that South Carolinians, and indeed Americans at large, have grown increasingly attuned to. The demand for transparency, for body camera footage, for full disclosure of law enforcement conduct, and for independent medical examinations has become the new baseline in any case involving in-custody fatalities. It is likely that those same calls will grow louder as the investigation into Jackson’s death proceeds.

So far, authorities have refrained from making any definitive statements regarding cause of death, pending the results of the ongoing investigation and coroner’s findings. But public trust hinges not just on eventual conclusions—it also depends on the timeliness, thoroughness, and impartiality of the investigation process itself. Each day that passes without detailed updates can feed public skepticism, particularly in an era when communities are hyper-aware of the long list of past failures to hold wrongdoers accountable.

Moreover, the location and timing of the incident—early morning hours, a physical altercation in a parking lot, emergency intervention in the back of a squad car or ambulance—paint a scene filled with variables, any one of which could have compounded an already tense situation. Whether Jackson’s breathing difficulties stemmed from medical distress, exertion, restraint technique, or another factor entirely remains at the center of what SLED must determine.

For now, Jackson’s family, along with civil rights organizations and community leaders, await more information. Advocacy groups monitoring the case will likely track the release of autopsy results, push for the publication of bodycam footage, and call for procedural audits. If Jackson had a history of medical vulnerability, or if the officers failed to follow established protocol in the struggle, the ramifications could be serious—both legally and institutionally.

In the immediate term, the town of Irmo must also confront the repercussions. Law enforcement agencies facing such scrutiny often respond with internal reviews, retraining sessions, or revised use-of-force guidelines. Whether the Irmo Police Department will undertake such measures remains to be seen, but public sentiment may force proactive responses even before SLED issues its final findings.

Meanwhile, the memory of Byron Jackson is already forming in the minds of those who knew him—not as a suspect or statistic, but as a man who died too soon, too suddenly, and too controversially. As the case unfolds, his name will be spoken in conversations about justice, reform, and what it means to hold power accountable in a democracy. His death, tragic and unresolved, may serve as a catalyst for dialogue and change—if not nationally, then at least in the communities he touched in life.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office, working in tandem with SLED, has promised to release more details as the investigation concludes. Until then, Irmo and North Augusta remain in a state of uneasy waiting, caught between sorrow and a need for truth.