34-year-old Jamal Smith was caught assaulting Mr. Rice at his home on Cameo Court on August 1st. During Rice’s account of the incident, he told officers he was at the mentioned location with Mrs. Kyasha Blackwell. Rice stated that while he was there, Blackwell answered the door and let in a dark-skinned male that he didn’t know, who was later identified as Smith. Rice reported that Smith pointed a pistol at him and demanded that he leave his house. At that moment, Smith chambered a round into the gun and pistol-whipped Rice. While Rice was getting pistol-whipped, Smith’s gun discharged and hit Rice in his shoulder. Rice reported that Smith then became apologetic, that he started telling him about his past, and that he would let him go. Smith proceeded to tell Rice he was allowed to go home, but Smith demanded that he had to follow him and that he needed possession of Rice’s phone. Once Rice made it home, he received his phone back from Smith before he left the residence. Rice reported that after some time, the pain got worse, so he made his way to a hospital. During the investigation, Smith was developed as a suspect and identified by Rice in a lineup. Initially, Rice withheld the full details from the officers due to fears for his safety. Eventually, however, he decided to share the entire story. Smith was later taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, and possession of a firearm during a felony on August 2nd.
