Ex-husband charged with attempted murder in shooting at ex-wife's home

Attempted murder as a first-degree felony is just one of the charges against a local man accused of shooting his ex-wife and a neighbor.

Brent J. Clayburn, 59, of 3975 Offshore Drive is also charged with false imprisonment with a deadly weapon (Level 3 felony), two counts of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon (both Level 6 felonies) and domestic violence (Class A misdemeanor).

Clayburn has been in the Bartholomew County Jail since Friday. Bail was set at $2 million by Judge Kelly Benjamin, who will try the case in Bartholomew District Court.

The incident that led to Clayburn's arrest began around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to police reports. Clayburn's ex-wife was at home at 2900 Silver Fox Drive when her doorbell rang, according to an affidavit.

When the woman saw that it was her ex-husband, she let him in.

“As soon as Clayburn came in, he hit her and said something to the effect of, 'One of us is going to die tonight,'” the affidavit states.

After the woman fled into the garage and tried to get outside through a roll-up door, Clayburn grabbed her by the hair and tried to pull her back into the house, the affidavit states. However, the ex-wife was able to break free of him and ran toward a male neighbor who had come when he heard the woman screaming, court documents say.

“Clayburn fired several shots at her,” the affidavit states.

The neighbor told police he shouted “Hey!” to get Clayburn to stop chasing the female victim. Despite this, several shots were fired at the two before they were able to get to safety inside the neighbor's house. When police arrived, Clayburn fled to his ex-wife's house, the affidavit states.

Columbus police officers, including SWAT team members, set up a security perimeter around the home where the suspect was hiding, the detective wrote. But after negotiators made contact with Clayburn, he eventually came outside and surrendered without incident, the affidavit states.

During a search of the home, three handguns and a .22 caliber folding rifle were seized, according to the affidavit. Kendrick said officers also found two extra ammunition magazines and a backpack containing several boxes of extra ammunition. Court documents say all of the firearm-related items belonged to Clayburn.

Investigators found eight shell casings on the woman's property. The detective wrote that seven bullet holes were found in the garage door of the neighboring house.

Online court records show the couple divorced last January, but legal battles over financial matters are ongoing.