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Clayton, Johnston County

Clayton: Justin Driskell charged after brother is shot on Fayetteville Street, police say

Clayton police answered a shooting call about 7 p.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of North Fayetteville Street. The Johnston County jail lists an Oct. 21 booking on an assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charge.

DevelopingOfficials are still releasing information. We update this story as facts are confirmed.

By Triangle Local Newsroom · Published

The Johnston County courthouse in Smithfield

File photo: Ammodramus (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • Clayton police answered a reported shooting on Fayetteville Street about 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.Confirmed by Clayton Police Department accounts reported by WRAL, CBS 17 and JoCo Report
  • CBS 17 placed the call in the 500 block of North Fayetteville Street. JoCo Report printed a house number on that block. This story uses the block, not the house number.Confirmed by CBS 17, Oct. 22, 2026; JoCo Report, Oct. 22, 2026
  • Those accounts say officers found a man with a gunshot wound to the head and that he was taken to WakeMed.Confirmed by WRAL, CBS 17 and JoCo Report, citing Clayton police
  • WRAL, citing arrest reports, identified the injured man as Steven. JoCo Report, citing police and court records, used the name Steven Michael Driskell and said he is Justin Tyler Driskell's brother.Confirmed by WRAL, Oct. 22, 2026; JoCo Report, Oct. 22, 2026
  • Justin Tyler Driskell, 38, of Clayton, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.Confirmed by Johnston County inmate inquiry; WRAL; CBS 17; JoCo Report
  • The Johnston County Sheriff's Office inmate list, last updated at 9:10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, listed Driskell as booked Oct. 21, 2026, on "ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON SER" and still in the county jail.Confirmed by Johnston County Inmate Inquiry, data last updated Oct. 22, 2026, 9:10 a.m.
  • Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor, the department's account said.Confirmed by Clayton Police Department via WRAL, CBS 17 and JoCo Report
  • JoCo Report said the department was still investigating.Confirmed by JoCo Report, Oct. 22, 2026

Alleged or reported

  • Driskell assaulted his brother with a handgun during the Tuesday shooting.a Clayton police warrant, as described by CBS 17
  • Driskell put his brother in a headlock, restricted his breathing, and shot him with a handgun.arrest reports, as described by WRAL
  • A separate assault-by-strangulation warrant names an Oct. 18 date, two days before the shooting, and was served Wednesday.records described by CBS 17

Still unknown

  • The injured man's condition
  • Whether a second warrant is active. The Thursday morning jail listing showed only the assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charge
  • Bond. JoCo Report and CBS 17 listed a $20,000 secured bond on the shooting charge; WRAL wrote that he was held on no bond
  • The next court date. WRAL said he was due Thursday; CBS 17 described a Wednesday first appearance and a Nov. 5 return date
  • What started the fight, beyond the alcohol note

What this means for you

Public safety
Clayton police are investigating. Do not approach anyone you think is involved. Call 911 if someone is in danger.

Instructions from Town of Clayton Police Department directory; Johnston County Inmate Inquiry

This site is not the Clayton Police Department. For a police response, call 911. The department's administration line is 919-553-4611 on weekdays. The Johnston County Sheriff's Office inmate line printed on the jail list is 919-989-5010. This site is not an emergency service. If someone is in danger, call 911.

What happened

In Clayton, officers answered a reported shooting on Fayetteville Street about 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Clayton Police Department accounts carried by WRAL, CBS 17 and JoCo Report describe a man with a head wound from a gunshot, taken to WakeMed. Those writeups identify him as Steven Driskell, brother of the man now charged. JoCo Report printed a middle name, Michael, and a house number. This story uses the 500 block, which is the street span CBS 17 used.

Justin Tyler Driskell, 38, of Clayton, faces a count of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. The sheriff's inmate list, stamped 9:10 a.m. Thursday, shows a Wednesday, Oct. 21, booking on that charge and lists him as still in jail.

A charge is an accusation. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor, according to the department.

WRAL, citing arrest reports, also listed felony assault by strangulation and wrote that Driskell put Steven in a headlock, then fired a handgun. CBS 17, citing records, described a strangulation warrant for Oct. 18 that was served Wednesday, after a first appearance on the shooting count. The Thursday jail row showed only the weapon charge. The second count is not treated as confirmed here.

JoCo Report listed a $20,000 secured bond. WRAL wrote that he was held with no bond. Those figures conflict, so no amount is published.

What we don't know yet

How badly Steven Driskell was hurt, and his condition now, has not been released in the reports we reviewed. Whether a second warrant is active, and the next court date, are also unsettled.

Tips

Call 911 for a police response. The department's administration line is 919-553-4611 on weekdays. This site is not an emergency service. If someone is in danger, call 911.

Photos

Text-only. No jail photograph or outlet image is used.

Why it matters

Clayton police have charged a man after a shooting on a residential street. People on that block need a clear account of what is in the jail listing and what is still disputed.

Updates

  1. Oct 22, 2026, 12:10 PM

    Johnston County's jail list shows Justin Driskell, 38, booked Oct. 21 on an assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charge after a Tuesday evening shooting on Fayetteville Street in Clayton. WRAL, CBS 17 and JoCo Report cite Clayton police. Bond figures and a second warrant do not match across those accounts.

Sources

  1. Johnston County Inmate Inquiry detail for DRISKELL, JUSTIN (age 38; booking date Oct. 21, 2026; charge ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON SER, arrest date Oct. 21, 2026)

    Official sourcePublished by Johnston County Sheriff's Office · Checked Oct 22, 2026, 12:08 PM

  2. Johnston County Inmate Inquiry roster (data last updated Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, 9:10 a.m.; DRISKELL, JUSTIN, primary charge ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON SER, arrest date Oct. 21, 2026; sheriff contact 919-989-5010)

    Official sourcePublished by Johnston County Sheriff's Office · Checked Oct 22, 2026, 12:08 PM

  3. Clayton man accused of shooting brother due in court Thursday (WRAL, posted 9:33 a.m. and updated 10:59 a.m. Oct. 22, 2026: Tuesday around 7 p.m., Fayetteville Street; man with a head injury; Justin Tyler Driskell, 38, of Clayton, charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and felony assault by strangulation; arrest reports accuse him of putting his brother, Steven, in a headlock, restricting his breathing, and shooting him with a handgun; alcohol a contributing factor; brother taken to WakeMed; held on no bond)

    Published by WRAL · Checked Oct 22, 2026, 12:10 PM

  4. Clayton man accused of shooting brother during fight at home, police say (CBS 17, Oct. 22, 2026: just after 7 p.m., 500 block of North Fayetteville Street; man with a head injury from a gunshot taken to WakeMed; fight with brother Justin Tyler Driskell, 38; warrant alleges assault with a handgun; alcohol a contributing factor; arrested the day of the shooting; first appearance Wednesday, $20,000 secured bond, return Nov. 5; strangulation warrant alleging Oct. 18 headlock served Wednesday, $25,000 secured bond, first appearance Thursday afternoon)

    Published by CBS 17 (WNCN) · Checked Oct 22, 2026, 12:06 PM

  5. Police: Clayton Man Shot Brother In Head During Domestic Altercation (JoCo Report, Oct. 22, 2026: about 7:03 p.m., 542 N. Fayetteville Street; Steven Michael Driskell with a gunshot wound to the head, taken to WakeMed in Raleigh; domestic altercation with brother Justin Tyler Driskell, 38; alcohol a contributing factor; charged after consultation with the Johnston County District Attorney's Office; $20,000 secured bond and no-contact order if released; condition not released; investigation continuing)

    Published by JoCo Report · Checked Oct 22, 2026, 12:07 PM

  6. N.C. General Statute 14-32 (felonious assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflicting serious injury)

    Official sourcePublished by North Carolina General Assembly · Checked Oct 22, 2026, 12:12 PM

  7. Clayton Police Department directory (315 E Second Street; administration 919-553-4611; emergency 911; weekday office hours)

    Official sourcePublished by Town of Clayton · Checked Oct 22, 2026, 12:12 PM

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