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Mickey Ray Rice

Gender : Male

Age : 31

Race : White

Date : 06/20/2021

Location : Anderson Creek Road

City : Robbinsville

County : Graham

State : North Carolina

Agency : Graham County Sheriff's Office

Officer(s) :Matthew Cox, Courtney Heaton

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during high-speed pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On June 20, 2021, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Deputy Matthew Cox of the Graham County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a 2005 Nissan Altima driven by 31-year-old Mickey Ray Rice for minor infractions, including an improper left turn and a broken taillight. While Deputy Cox processed Rice's information, Rice fled, initiating a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds of up to 100 mph. The chase ended at the dead end of Anderson Creek Road, where Rice attempted to maneuver his vehicle to continue fleeing but was blocked by Deputy Courtney Heaton's patrol car.
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As Deputy Heaton approached the vehicle, Rice brandished a weapon that was later identified as a BB gun resembling a handgun. Despite multiple commands to drop the weapon, Rice allegedly swung it toward Deputy Heaton. In response, Deputy Heaton fired a single shot, fatally striking Rice. No law enforcement officers were injured.
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The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation reviewed the incident, and District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch concluded that Deputy Heaton’s use of deadly force was justified under North Carolina law.
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Total Fatalities/Injuries:1 Fatality (Mickey Ray Rice

SOURCE LINKS :

https://wlos.com/news/local/graham-county-sheriff-suspect-killed-by-deputy-ignored-commands-to-drop-weapon-gun-turned-out-to-be-fake
• https://www.grahamstar.com/local-regional-newsletter/identity-confirmed-shooting-fatality
• https://wlos.com/news/local/graham-county-deputy-cleared-of-wrongdoing-in-fatal-shooting-courtney-heaton-mickey-ray-rice
• https://wrgc.com/deputy-cleared-in-fatal-shooting/
• https://wlos.com/news/local/investigation-underway-into-fatal-graham-county-deputy-involved-shooting-sbi-confirms
• https://theonefeather.com/2021/12/03/graham-co-sherriffs-deputy-cleared-in-fatal-shooting/
• https://www.facebook.com/smnews/posts/10159479432125310/
• https://keyt.com/cnn-regional/2021/07/06/sheriff-suspect-killed-ignored-commands-to-drop-weapon-gun-turned-out-to-be-fake/
• https://www.grahamstar.com/local-regional-newsletter/county-deputy-cleared-after-june-shooting