Coralville shooting victim arrested on suspicion of theft

A 22-year-old Iowa City man is in the Johnson County Jail this morning on a felony theft charge after police said he stole more than $2,000 in items from the house of a friend who let him stay there after being involved in a shooting.

Kenneth Tyrone Clayborn Jr. asked permission to stay at an Iowa City home on Notting Hill Lane on Sept. 5, explaining that he had recently been involved in a shooting in Coralville.

Clayborn is accused of staying at the home for several days while the victims were out of town. When they returned, they discovered an iPad, Garmin GPS system, gold class ring, docking station, and a watch were missing, according to a criminal complaint.

The victims said no one else had access to their home while they were away, and they've tried to call Clayborn to get their things back, but he's no longer answering his phone, police reported.

Coralville police Chief Barry Bedford said Clayborn was involved in a shooting in the 700 block of Fifth Avenue in Coralville on Sept. 2. Clayborn, whose address is listed as 717 Fifth Ave., was hit over the head by a man known as “Woodee” during the altercation, and another person was shot.

Clayborn, who was not seriously hurt, isn't facing criminal charges in connection with that incident. Bedford said Clayborn presumably asked to stay in Iowa City for a few days because of the assault.

The person who was shot was treated and released from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Follow-up investigation into the shooting showed that a “domestic situation resulted in a physical fight that escalated into the shooting,” according to Coralville police.

Officers are continuing to look for a suspect who goes by the name “Wooda” or “Woodee.”  Bedford said Woodee was known to the other people involved, although they didn't know his real name.

Clayborn has six open criminal cases in Iowa, including several other theft charges. Earlier this year, Clayborn was arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft after police said he stole more than $1,100 worth of merchandise from Target between April 5 and April 13.

His trial in that case is set for Dec. 4.

Clayborn is back in the Johnson County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond.