CLEVELAND — A sentencing hearing turned chaotic Thursday when Van Terry, the heartbroken father of one of serial killer Michael Madison’s victims, leapt over a courtroom table to attack the man convicted of murdering his daughter.

Moments earlier, Terry had stood before the judge to speak about his daughter, 18-year-old Shirellda Terry, and the pain of losing her. “Right now, I guess we’re supposed to, in our hearts, forgive this clown who has touched our families, taken my child,” he said. Then, without warning, he turned toward Madison and lunged.

Courtroom deputies quickly restrained Terry as Madison and others scrambled out of the way. Shouts of “No!” and “Terry!” echoed through the courtroom. Madison was not injured, and after a 15-minute delay, the hearing resumed.

The outburst followed Cuyahoga County Judge Nancy McDonnell’s decision to uphold a jury’s recommendation that Madison receive the death penalty for the 2013 murders of three women: Angela Deskins (38), Shetisha Sheeley (28), and Shirellda Terry (18). Their bodies were discovered near Madison’s East Cleveland apartment.

Madison, 38, was convicted of multiple counts of aggravated murder and kidnapping. Although his defense team cited a history of severe abuse and trauma during childhood, Judge McDonnell said the brutality of his crimes outweighed those mitigating factors.

The case drew national attention due to similarities with the crimes of Anthony Sowell, another Cleveland serial killer sentenced to death in 2011. Madison had previously served four years in prison for attempted rape in 2002 and was a registered sex offender.

His death sentence now enters a lengthy appeals process. Meanwhile, Van Terry’s emotional reaction serves as a raw reminder of the grief still rippling through the victims’ families and the community at large.