JACKSON, TN – Bobby Joe Claybrook, Jr., 41, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, will spend the next four decades in federal prison after being sentenced for a brazen attack on U.S. Marshals. Claybrook opened fire on the task force as they approached a Jackson duplex on November 2, 2020, attempting to arrest him on outstanding warrants from the Dyersburg Police Department. He was sentenced October 28, 2022, to 480 months – 40 years – followed by five years of supervised release.
The incident unfolded after authorities learned Claybrook was wanted for attempted second-degree homicide and, critically, was a convicted felon illegally possessing a firearm. As the task force, comprised of U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement, neared the residence, Claybrook unleashed a volley of gunfire through a small window in the porch. Two officers were struck: one in the arm and leg, the other by a single round. Both were hospitalized and thankfully released after treatment.
The immediate aftermath left several officers pinned down, forced to seek cover until the Jackson Police Department SWAT Team arrived. A protracted standoff ensued, finally ending with Claybrook’s surrender after hours of negotiation. The scene was a chaotic testament to the dangers faced by law enforcement daily, as U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller stated: “Trying to hurt a Deputy U.S. Marshal has serious consequences.”
A subsequent search of the residence, conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, quickly confirmed the source of the attack. Investigators recovered a 9mm firearm and multiple spent 9mm shell casings near the window used by Claybrook. The discovery cemented the charges against him, highlighting not only the assault but also his status as a prohibited person – legally barred from owning firearms due to prior felony convictions.
U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz emphasized the severity of Claybrook’s actions. “This defendant pled guilty to committing a violent assault on federal law enforcement officers. That’s an extremely serious crime, deserving of this extremely serious sentence. The United States will not hesitate to bring significant resources to bear when citizens attack our law enforcement partners,” Ritz stated following the sentencing.
The case was a joint effort, investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Jackson-Madison County Narcotics, and the Jackson Police Department SWAT Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham prosecuted the case, securing a sentence that sends a clear message: attacking federal officers carries a steep price. Claybrook will not be eligible for parole under the federal system.
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