Chad Clayborn Death and Obituary – The Columbia County community is mourning the tragic loss of Chad Clayborn, a 21-year-old resident of Evans, Georgia, whose life was cut short following a shooting that occurred near the Lakeside High School area. Chad’s death has left family, friends, and loved ones heartbroken, while also raising renewed concerns about gun violence and community safety.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon in the 500 block of Commons Drive, near the Blueridge Commons Apartments. Authorities identified Chad Clayborn as the victim in the incident, which triggered a swift law enforcement response and led to multiple school lockdowns in the surrounding area.
Investigators determined that Clayborn had been shot earlier in the day and later arrived at a residence on Riverwatch Parkway, where he had gone to drop off his 2-year-old daughter. An incident report stated that Hayden Cozart, the child’s mother, contacted emergency dispatchers after Clayborn told her he had been shot by Davonte Taylor. Deputies responded to the scene and located Clayborn, who was suffering from serious injuries.
Emergency medical services transported Clayborn to Doctors Hospital, where he received treatment. Despite medical efforts, Chad Clayborn later succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a grieving family and a young child who will grow up without her father.
The Criminal Investigations Division of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded to both the Commons Drive shooting scene and the Riverwatch Parkway location. Both areas were secured and processed as investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
Later that evening, authorities arrested Davonte Taylor, 18, also of Evans. Taylor was taken into custody around 10 p.m. by the Richmond County Crime Suppression Team at an apartment complex off Skinner Mill Road, using information provided by Columbia County deputies. He was subsequently charged with aggravated assault and is currently being held without bond, according to jail records.
Earlier reports of the shooting prompted precautionary lockdowns at Lakeside High School, Lakeside Middle School, and Blue Ridge Elementary School. Witnesses reported seeing individuals flee the area, including one person wearing a pink hoodie. The Columbia County School District later confirmed that all students and staff were safe, emphasizing that the shooting did not take place on school property. Lockdowns were lifted once officials determined there was no ongoing threat, though dismissals were delayed and after-school activities were canceled.
In a statement released Thursday, Sheriff Clay Whittle thanked partnering agencies for their assistance in the investigation and arrest, highlighting the importance of inter-agency cooperation in maintaining public safety.
As the investigation continues, Chad Clayborn is remembered as a young man whose life ended far too soon. His passing serves as a painful reminder of the devastating impact of violence on families and communities.