Mickey Rice
Tallulah – A Graham County sheriff’s deputy has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting death of a Dickson, Tenn., resident.
Deputy Courtney Heaton fatally shot 31-year-old Mickey Ray Rice on June 20, after officers gave chase when Rice fled from a traffic stop in Robbinsville. The high-speed pursuit ended on Anderson Creek Road – off U.S. 129 North – where Rice jumped out of a 2005 Nissan Altima and brandished what appeared to be a real gun toward officers. The gun was later determined to be fake.
At that juncture, Heaton fired her weapon at Rice, who died at the scene from his injuries.
District Attorney Ashley Welch shared a release on Dec. 2 to announce Heaton’s clearance of any infractions in the case, citing portions of N.C. G.S. 15A-401(d)(1)(a) and (d)(2) for her reasoning.
“Heaton was justified in the use of deadly force, as it was her actual and reasonable belief that the application of such force was necessary to defend herself and others from imminent harm,” Welch said.
According to the release, Welch reviewed witness statements, interviews, photographs, surveillance video, use-of-force policies, CAD report, Heaton’s law-enforcement records, relevant criminal-and-driving histories, crime-scene investigation report, body camera, dash camera and supporting handwritten notes, emails and text messages. Footage from the scene shows Rice repeatedly refused law enforcement commands to exit his vehicle and put his hands up. Welch met with members of Rice’s family in November to explain her decision, and also allowed them to review dash-cam video of the pursuit and the shooting.
“After careful review of the SBI investigative file, the relevant statutes and case law, I have determined that there is no evidence of criminal misconduct by Officer Heaton and that the use of force was lawful and justified,” Welch said.
“I sincerely offer my condolences to the family of Mr. Rice. I know they are grieving the loss of a loved one.”