23 Year Old Man Pleads to Attempted Second Degree Murder

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that today in the Division Six courtroom Dashawn C. Clayborn, 23, plead no contest to attempted second degree murder. 

On Friday, January 30, 2015 at approximately 12:30 a.m., officers with the Lawrence Police Department (LPD) responded to a call in reference to a shooting at a home in the 3000 block of Stephens Drive.  When officers arrived in the area, they found a victim that had been shot in his face and in the right side of his back. The victim was flown by air ambulance to a Kansas City area trauma center where he was successfully treated for his injuries.  Officers were able to interview several uninjured parties that witnessed the shooting. Through their investigation they learned that a group of people had been in the basement of the home playing a card game when a dispute erupted over a piece of missing property.  That dispute lead to the victim being shot multiple times. 

Later that same morning, officers were notified that a car was reported stolen from an apartment in the 1000 block of West 24th Street.  An attempt to locate was placed on the vehicle and officers quickly observed a car matching the description of the stolen vehicle.  When an officer attempted to catch up with the vehicle, the driver recklessly sped down eastbound K10 Highway.  The driver ultimately lost control of the vehicle, struck the safety barriers and the vehicle came to rest in the median near the westbound lanes.  Luckily, the suspect did not injure any other motorists.  The officer was able to take the suspect, who was still belted into his seat, into custody.  The driver was identified as Mr. Clayborn. 

Mr. Clayborn faces a range of 55 to 247 months imprisonment for attempted second degree murder.  His actual sentence will be dependent on his prior criminal history.  His sentencing hearing was scheduled for October 23 at 10:00 a.m.

The Honorable Peggy C. Kittel presided over the case.  The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and it was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney David Melton.