Carson City man arrested after chasing co-worker with a gun after physical altercation

A 41-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday morning on felony assault with a deadly weapon and brandishing after allegedly chasing his co-worker with a firearm following a physical altercation.

On Thursday morning, Kevin James Rice was arrested after deputies were dispatched to the 3300 block of Executive Point Way in reference to a welfare check.

Deputies spoke with the owner of a local business, who stated they had a “bumpy” morning and stated one employee had pulled a handgun on another employee during a “heated argument.”

The owner pointed out the suspect within his vehicle, parked in a church parking lot nearby. When the owner pointed out the vehicle, the driver quickly drove off.

Deputies followed the vehicle, which did not immediately stop, and deputies continued following the vehicle until it abruptly came to a halt on the wrong side of the road in front of a residence on Bobarly Ct.

Deputies initiated a high risk traffic stop and exited their vehicle, taking cover behind a nearby parked car.

The driver, later identified as Kevin Rice, complied with directions and advised he had a pistol in his right front pocket.

Inside the vehicle, deputies located an AR-15 rifle with an inserted 30 round magazine on the rear floorboard within reach of the driver’s seat. Deputies also observed a tan, full-sized handgun tucked into the back pocket of the front passenger’s seat, positioned in a way for the driver to reach it, according to the report.

Deputies spoke with Rice, who stated he had worked at the company for several years. He stated he had “been in conflict” with a few co-workers recently, and felt that one co-worker in particular had been antagonistic towards him.

Rice stated that he received a call from one co-worker, who asked to meet at a nearby coffee shop to discuss the situation. While on his way to the meeting, Rice stated he received a text message from another co-worker which he described as “talking shit.”

He contacted the initial co-worker and stated he wouldn’t be meeting at the coffee shop, but instead would meet him at the business as he was planning on quitting.

At the business, Rice was removing his personal tools from his work truck and transferring them to his personal vehicle when an individual came out and told him something to the effect of, “You’re fucking me over by quitting,” according to the report, and Rice said he was tired of the conflict and was just trying to leave.

Then, Rice stated another co-worker came out and began cussing at Rice and then pushed him, and a "scuffle broke out."

Rice stated that he was hit in the head by someone, and the next thing he knew he was on his hands and knees, recovering from being struck. He stated he did not know who hit him, and was concerned he was "under attack from multiple people."

However, deputies learned later from the owner of the business as well as from video footage they reviewed that Rice started the fight by charging at his co-worker with fists raised, who then punched him in the side of the head while the other employees attempted to break up the fight.

Rice said he pulled a .380 pistol from his right pants pocket and charged towards the co-worker he had fought with, who was now backing up. He said he continued to pursue the co-worker to keep a line of sight on him while another co-worker tried to stop him.

Rice stated he was only trying to keep him in view, but admitted to following him around one of the work trucks several times until the co-worker was able to escape.

He stated he then left and went to the church parking lot to calm down.

Deputies asked Rice about the loaded rifle and other pistol in his vehicle being positioned for quick use, and Rice stated he “always keeps the weapons in such a manner because he shoots often,” according to the report.

Deputies noted that Rice was parked in such a way as to have a full view of the front office of the business. Deputies advised Rice they found it “unusual” for someone to routinely carry their firearms in such a way in their vehicle.

Deputies spoke with the owner of the business, who stated earlier that morning, one of his employees contacted him to advise of a dispute between himself, Rice and another employee. Rice was angry that the employees were spreading rumors and lies about him, according to the owner.

At the business, one of the co-workers was standing in a shop, who yelled to Rice that he should talk to him himself, at which point Rice yelled, “Fuck you!” towards the co-worker. The co-worker then exited the shop, and Rice began running at him, according to the owner.

According to the owner, when Rice pulled a handgun from his right front pocket and chambered a round, Rice tried aiming his gun at the co-worker, who was trying to run away. Another co-worker tried to wrap Rice in a bear hug to prevent him from shooting, but was "barely able" to stop him as Rice pursued him around the work truck several times.

The co-worker was able to run away, and Rice recovered his holster from the ground and began to leave. The owner stated he clearly heard Rice state several times, “If I ever see him again I will kill him,” before driving away. The owner did not realize Rice drove to a nearby parking lot until deputies arrived on scene and saw his vehicle.

Deputies watched the footage of the incident, which was partially cut off near where the incident occurred. However, deputies stated that the video was consistent with the owner's version of things.

Additionally on the video it showed that Rice recovered from being struck and began to walk away, and that no one was behind him or was preventing him from leaving. At that point, Rice drew his gun, partially turning away to conceal what he was doing, according to the report, before quickly aiming it at the co-worker he had fought with.

Deputies stated they believed that the co-worker who restrained him prevented him from shooting the other employee.

Deputies discussed the matter after viewing the video and stated that the incident involved verbal escalation between Rice and the co-worker, and the physical altercation which led to the firearm being used was clear. However, deputies determined that Rice did not draw his weapon in self-defense as he previously stated.

The deputy stated he spoke with Rice again, and explained that he would be arresting him, and “sympathized with Rice as to his frustrations,” but that the evidence provided probable cause to arrest him. Rice’s fiancee arrived on scene and was allowed to collect the other firearms from the vehicle, and the deputy “allowed them a few moments of private conversation” before transporting Rice to jail, according to the report.

He was taken into custody without incident, and his CCW permit was confiscated pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

Bail: $20,637

All information for the crime log (unless otherwise noted) comes from the arrest reports supplied by the Carson City Sheriff's Office, and is considered by law to be public information. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The policy of Carson Now is to name anyone who is arrested for a felony offense.