‘I am just devastated I have to bury my oldest son,’ says Richland shooting victim’s mother
Story update: Convicted felon wanted for killing West Richland man suspected of stalking his girlfriend
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A 30-year-old West Richland man died after a Friday night shooting in Richland.
Daniel S. Rice was shot multiple times outside of the Columbia Park apartment complex on the 1600 block of Jadwin Avenue around 8:30 p.m. He was rushed to Kadlec Regional Medical Center, where he died early Saturday.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon for Rice, Benton County Coroner Bill Leach said.
Crime scene tape was still cordoning off much of the front lawn of the apartment complex Saturday, while police continued to investigate the scene.
Officers spent a large part of the night scouring the area near Chief Joseph Middle School.
Neighbors said Friday night they heard one shot followed by several more gunshots about 8:35 p.m. in the parking lot of the apartment complex.
Police are still looking for two men seen leaving the scene in a dark Honda sedan or similar car. One suspect is described as being 6 feet tall and wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt and jeans, Richland police Sgt. Drew Florence said.
Rice’s mother, Juanita Austin, described him as an amazing big brother who had a heart of gold. The young, single man loved 4X4 trucks, fishing, hunting and being around his family.
“I am just devastated that I have to bury my oldest son,” she said.
Her sister has arranged a GoFundMe campaign to pay for his funeral expenses at bit.ly/RiceFundraiser.
While his relationship with family and friends was great, he did have run-ins with the law. He was arrested in 2014 and 2018 for having a stolen car, and again in 2018 for having prescription medication without a prescription. In his 2014 case, he received a drug treatment and tried to resolve his most recent case in adult drug court, but failed to show up for an April 4 hearing.
Investigators are trying to determine if Rice was targeted by the shooter.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Florence at 509-942-7654 or dflorence@ci.richland.wa.us.
The homicide is the second in the city limits this year. Police are still looking for the gunman that killed 21-year-old Emilio M. Elizondo on a Goethals Drive sidewalk in January.
The two killings follow five years without a murder in Richland.
This story was originally published May 4, 2019 at 10:42 AM.