Columbus man faces attempted murder charge in shooting

A Columbus man has been charged with attempted murder as a result of a double shooting in the city’s historic district over the weekend.

Kyle K. Husbands, 28, 2460 Charleston Place, also has been charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon.

The shootings occurred at a rental home about 4 p.m. Saturday at 1212 Pearl St., according to police reports.

A witness told police that Husbands had shown up at the Pearl Street address and was asked to leave, said Columbus Police Department investigator Ryan Linneweber in probable-cause affidavits filed with Bartholomew Superior Court 1.

The witness indicated there was already tension involving the defendant and herself because another woman who lived there who was pregnant with Husband’s child had just been hospitalized, the affidavit states.

Instead of allowing Husbands inside the two-story, three-bedroom single-family residence, the witness said she walked outside onto her porch and told him he was not welcome and should leave, the affidavit stated.

That prompted Husbands to strike the woman in the face and attempt to choke her, the witness told police.

Two guests who were at the house — Tyler L. Lucas, 24, of Columbus and Cody J. Spencer, 19, of Franklin — intervened, Linneweber wrote in the court affidavit.

After a fight that lasted several minutes among the three men concluded, a neighbor told police Husbands returned to his car and began to drive away, the affidavit stated.

Husbands then stopped, got out of the vehicle and approached the house with a gun, the neighbor said. Husbands ran up on the home’s porch, swung the door open and shot twice inside, the neighbor told police. Husbands then ran out of the house, got in the car and drove away, the neighbor told police.

After watching Husbands drive away again, the neighbor said she walked into the home and saw that Spencer had been shot in the chest, the affidavit stated.

When police arrived, they discovered that Lucas had sustained two gunshot wounds to his legs, Linneweber wrote.

After police arrived, Lucas and Spencer were able to provide statements that identified Husbands as the shooter, the affidavit stated.

Husbands was arrested a short time later at his residence, just east of Taylor Road and 25th Street.

Lucas and Spencer were transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis but were expected to recover from their injuries, Columbus Police spokesman Lt. Matt Harris said.

On Monday, bond was initially set at $2.5 million and Husbands was placed on a 72-hour hold to keep him at the Bartholomew County Jail while the initial investigation continued, court records state.

Superior Court 1 Judge Jim Worton could re-evaluate the bond amount today during an 11 a.m. initial hearing, court officials said.

The criminal charges against Husbands were filed Thursday by Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash.

If convicted on both felonies, Husbands could be sentenced to between 21 and 46 years in prison as well as face fines of up to $20,000.

This is not the first time Husbands has been accused of committing violent acts.

Husbands was arrested on charges of strangulation, battery resulting in bodily injury and domestic battery in June 2012, but a Bartholomew Circuit Court jury found him not guilty on all counts, records state.

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The initial court hearing for Kyle Husbands, who was formally charged with attempted murder and battery Thursday, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today before Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge Jim Worton.  

During the hearing, Worton may schedule upcoming court hearings for Husbands, including tentative dates for a change of plea and jury trial. 

While court officials expect Husbands will remain at the Bartholomew County Jail during today’s hearing, he will be able to communicate with the judge via a video conference.   

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