CLEVELAND (AP) — The father of a woman murdered by a convicted sex offender lunged across a courtroom table in a violent outburst on Thursday, moments after a judge sentenced the defendant to death for killing three people and wrapping their bodies in garbage bags.
Van Terry, the father of Shirellda Terry, had walked to the front of the courtroom to give a victim-impact statement when he turned toward Michael Madison, who flashed a malicious smile. In an instant, Terry charged at Madison, only to be quickly subdued by sheriff’s deputies, as Madison and his attorneys scrambled to avoid the confrontation.
Law enforcement officers swiftly escorted Terry out of the courtroom and the courthouse. A spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office stated that the incident is under review.
Despite the disruption, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy McDonnell chose not to clear the courtroom. After a brief, 15-minute delay, the proceedings continued.
